Douglas “Doug” Shepp McCain, the eldest son of the late Sen. John McCain, died suddenly on May 20 at age 66, his family announced. A Jacksonville native and former Navy pilot, McCain went on to fly for American Airlines and was known within the family for a dry sense of humor and an easy, ready laugh. He is survived by his wife, Ashley, two children, Caroline and Douglas Shepp McCain Jr., and a grandson, Teddy.
Meghan McCain shared the news on social media, calling her brother “a truly wonderful, joyful man who supported me throughout my life,” according to CBS News. The family obituary described his passing as sudden and did not list a cause of death. The obituary and the funeral home notice outline arrangements and plans for memorial gatherings.
Obituary Details And Memorial Plans
An online obituary from his funeral home states that McCain died “suddenly” on May 20 and that private services are planned, with a public memorial gathering set for Saturday, May 30 at the Princess Anne Country Club in Virginia Beach, according to H.D. Oliver Funeral Apartments. A separate memorial listing with the family’s notice is also available on Legacy. The funeral home posting requests that, instead of flowers, donations be made to Jacksonville Episcopal High School, the University of Virginia, or a charity of the donor’s choice.
Career And Service
McCain grew up in a Navy community in Florida and graduated from Jacksonville Episcopal High School, later attending the University of Virginia to study systems engineering. The obituary notes that he graduated in 1982. He served six years in the Navy, flying A-6 Intruders, then built a long career with American Airlines, where he ultimately became a captain, details reported by Fox News. Family members and colleagues remembered his friendship, his love of golf, and the quiet, steady support he offered to those close to him.
Family Ties And Public Memory
John McCain adopted Douglas after marrying his mother, Carol Shepp, in 1965, and the family remained in the public eye throughout the late senator’s Navy career and decades in Congress, according to CBS News. Doug McCain also appears among the on-camera family interviews in the HBO documentary “John McCain: For Whom the Bell Tolls,” where he is listed in the film’s full credits on IMDb…