Ning-Chun Chai McLaren

Ning-Chun Chai McLaren, age 75, was born in Dengfong, Henan province, China on January 19, 1940 to Shubo Gao and Tseng Lu Chai. Her family moved to Taiwan when she was a teenager, where she graduated from college with a degree in Chemical Engineering. In the mid-1960s, she moved to Manhattan, Kansas to join her brother, An-Ti and attended Kansas State University, earning a Masters of Science degree in genetics. It was there that she met her husband John McLaren. They were married in Plymouth, Michigan on August 9, 1972. Ning lived in Salt Lake City and Los Angeles for a few years, before moving to Ann Arbor, Michigan in 1980. Ning was employed by the University of Michigan for over 25 years as a researcher in three different laboratories, working in the fields of microbiology, immunology, and at the Kellogg Eye Center performing glaucoma research, from which she retired in 2007 Ning enjoyed her work with the Chinese Educational and Cultural Center, a non-profit organization, for over two decades and made many friends over the years in the Chinese community through this organization. Throughout her life, Ning had a great fondness of cats. Over many years, she and her husband took in numerous stray cats, providing them with food, shelter and a loving home. Amongst her hobbies, she enjoyed classical and Chinese music, reading health and wellness articles and books, daily exercising and walking, Chinese cultural events, classic movies and television shows. Ning is survived by her husband, John Duncan McLaren III, and twin sons John Duncan (Tatyana) McLaren IV and Charles Ian (Elizabeth) McLaren. Ning was a proud grandmother to Svetlana, Logan, Jensen, Ian and Anson. Preceding her in death is brother, An-Ti (Shwu-Chen) Chai. Other surviving relatives include sister Lee-Ying Chai, brother Tuan-Ti (Mae) Chai, sister-in-law Cindy (John) Hartsig, nephew and nieces Chendy Chai, Shuann (Shunske Sato) Chai, and Lillian (David) Tolman. A private visitation for family and friends will be held on Sunday, December 6th from 12:00pm-3:00pm at the Schrader-Howell Funeral Home 280 South Main St, Plymouth. A memorial service to celebrate her life and memory will be held at the funeral home on Saturday, December 12th at 3:00pm. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Humane Society of Huron Valley, 3100 Cherry Hill Rd, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105.