My Genealogy Hound

Howard Terbell McNear, “Floyd Lawson” on The Andy Griffith Show, grave, ashes, Los Angeles National Cemetery, California, photo

The name plate marking the place of the ashes or grave site of Howard Terbell McNear. He was born on January 27, 1905 in Los Angeles, California. McNear is best known for his role of Floyd Lawson, the barber, in 80 episodes of The Andy Griffith Show from 1961 to 1967. Previously, McNear was known for his role as the voice of Doc Adams on the radio series, Gunsmoke, from 1952 to 1961. In addition, McNear had roles in more than one hundred movie and other television series episodes in a wide range of characters.

During the third season of The Andy Griffith Show, McNear suffered a serious stroke which left him partially paralyzed. As he was no longer able to move freely about, later episodes showed McNear either sitting in his barber chair or sitting outside on a bench. Occasionally, he was shown standing which required props to enable standing. He left the series in 1967 as he was no longer able to recite his lines without great difficulty.

Howard McNear died on January 3, 1969 in San Fernando, California. He was 63 years old. McNear's death was the result of pneumonia complicated by his stroke. As a veteran who served in the U. S. Army Air Corps during World War II, his cremated remains are kept at Los Angeles National Cemetery.