Nancy Williams McClure

Nancy Williams McClure, of Kansas City, passed on Tuesday, December 6, 2022 in her living room with her beloved dogs, cats, and son by her side. Diagnosed with advanced cancers in early October, she spent her last two months comfortably at home, eating well, telling stories, and without much physical pain.

Nancy was born in Kansas City to parents Powell and Zelma (nee Hood) Williams. She attended Border Star and Southwest High School, and then studied at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida before transferring to the University of Miami majoring in theater and Spanish. After graduating with honors she spent two years teaching elementary school in Puerto Rico. Returning to Miami, she rekindled the relationship with the love of her life Jim McClure of Danville, Kentucky. They travelled extensively throughout Europe and married before relocating to Chapel Hill, North Carolina where he taught philosophy while working towards his PhD. She furthered her theater studies at UNC for several years before the birth of their son Michael. Eventually Nancy and Michael moved back to Kansas City where her mother Zelma's help allowed time to attend graduate school at night, work in theater and teach during the day. She earned a masters in technical theater at UMKC while working at the KC Repertory Theater and began a thirty-five year career as an urban teacher with the Kansas City School District teaching mostly Spanish and theater. Her charm and sardonic wit, along with often presenting irreverent subject matter, endeared her to students but not always to administrators. Years later, after retiring from the Kansas City District, she returned to UMKC at the age of 74 and earned a masters in Romance languages with an emphasis in classical Spanish literature while also teaching part time in the Blue Valley and Shawnee Mission, Kansas school systems. She was still working as a substitute teacher this September marking over sixty years as an educator.

Nancy was active in animal welfare and several rescue groups, frequently adopting and nursing back to health the sick and older dogs she was supposed to be finding homes for. She is survived by her son Michael McClure of Kansas City, her dogs and cats who never left her side and a group of dear friends whose love and support Nancy and her son will always be grateful for.

The McClure family wishes to express heartfelt appreciation to Erica, Josh, Becca and everyone from the Visiting Nurses Association Home Health Care and Hospice Program for their professionalism, patience, and compassion. Thanks to Visiting Nurses she was able to spend her last two months at home which is what she wanted.

Nancy's wishes were to be cremated and then interred next to her mother and father at Mount Moriah in south Kansas City. After the holidays, a casual reception will be held in her honor. Definitive plans have not been finalized so please contact her son Michael at [email protected] for details if you are interested in attending.