Theodore (Ted) Lenwood McLemore, 72, of Paris, Texas, passed away unexpectedly in his home on November 28, 2023. He will be remembered as a loving spouse, father, grandfather, family member, and friend. He was a brilliant researcher and a passionate, dedicated physician. All who came into his orbit felt his warmth, humor, and generosity, and he will be sorely missed. Ted was born in Cleburne, Texas, to James Edgar “Mac” McLemore, Sr. and Gwendolyn Gibbs McLemore. He had an active childhood in Glen Rose, Texas, surrounded by his large and close-knit family. As a teenager, he attended Glen Rose High School where he played the trumpet in the band and played on the basketball and football teams. At age 5, he started working at the family-owned Coca-Cola bottling plant and spent many formative years fishing and hunting with his cousins and uncles. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston and went on to earn a PhD in biochemistry from the University of Texas’s MD Anderson Cancer Center. After completing his doctorate, he attended medical school at Baylor College of Medicine, followed by a residency at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. During this time, Ted married his first wife, Linda, and welcomed his two children, T. J. and Beth. Ted and his family relocated to Bethesda, Maryland, where he conducted cancer research at the National Institutes of Health and attained the rank of captain in the US Public Health Service. At the NIH, he was at the vanguard of lung cancer research, publishing dozens of articles in prominent journals and receiving various awards. The national news media, including CNN and the Wall Street Journal, ran features on his research. During this time, Ted was also appointed as an attending physician at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Homesick for his home state, Ted and family moved to Paris, Texas, in 1990, where he opened a private practice in pulmonary medicine. He founded, led, or directed many medical initiatives in Paris, including the St. Joseph’s Cancer Center, the Paris Sleep Disorders Center, and the Paris Interventional Pulmonology Center. He also served on many medical, pharmaceutical, and municipal boards. Ted played as hard as he worked and had many interests and hobbies. He was an avid golfer, hunter, fisherman, and sports fan, and relished sharing good food and wine with family and friends. He loved singing along to oldies and took joy in entertaining everyone with his infectious laughter while watching old comedies. His energy and enthusiasm seemed endless, and his unflagging zeal for life was contagious. He lived every day to its fullest, inviting us all to join him. Ted is survived by his two children, son T. J. McLemore and wife Karen McClellan, of Denver, Colorado, and daughter Beth Schlicht and husband Hanno Schlicht, of Otterndorf, Germany; and grandchildren, Emilia and Henrik Schlicht and Charlie McLemore. He is also survived by his wife of 15 years, Deborah McLemore of Paris; a step-daughter, Becky Jones and husband Rodney of Paris; grandchildren Seth & Hudson Jones and Makynzi & Oliver Watson; sisters-in-law Cynthia Rhodes and husband James, Vickie Horne and husband Mike, and Dian Gose and husband Mike; along with 15 nieces and nephews. Ted also leaves cousins, Danny Chambers and wife Anita, G.C.”Coke” Gibbs, Marilyn Gibbs Jarvis and husband David, Jim Gibbs and wife Karen, Joe Gibbs and wife Erica, Jill Johns and husband Jiji, Carrie Beth Harding and husband David and niece, Margie Parman and husband David. Ted was preceded in death by his mother Gwendolyn, his father Mac, and his older brother Jimmy. He is mourned and missed by his many patients, clinic staff, colleagues, friends, and family members. Services are scheduled for 11:00 am on Saturday, December 9, 2023, at East Paris Baptist Church with Dr. Danny Moody officiating. A private burial will follow at Bogata Cemetery. The family will receive friends before the service at 10:00 am at the church. Casket Bearers will be, James Rhodes, Mike Horne, Mike Gose, Seth Jones, Hudson Jones, Manuel Rangel, Matt Gibbs and David Harding. Honorary casket bearers will be David Parman, Jim Gibbs and Joe Gibbs. To leave a message or tribute for the family please visit www.brighthollandfuneralhome.com
