Clarissa Bernice McClure

She was born in Bangor, Maine, on March 9, 1922, but the family home was in Kenduskeag. She was predeceased by her parents, Amy and Ervin Pullen of Kenduskeag; her husband, James “Mac” Thomas McClure, who was stationed at Dow AFB in Maine for several years in the 1950s; and by one son, James Thomas McClure, Jr. She was the last surviving child of Ervin’s and Amy’s children, predeceased by siblings, Alma, Mont, George, Shirley, William (who lost his life in France during WWII), Ethelyn, Raymond, Gordon, Rita, Virginia, and Eleanor.

Claire, moved back to the Kenduskeag homestead when Mac shipped out for the Pacific during WWII. Son, Jim, was born while he was away; Mac didn’t see him until he was 3. As a military wife, Claire, moved her kids (plus dogs and parakeets) around the US and even to Newfoundland. She loved nature – the flowers and birds. One granddaughter called her Snow White because the birds gathered and flowers bloomed wherever she lived. One brother said she carried hummingbirds in her pocket when she came to their house because they only saw them when she was around.

She always created a comfortable home for us, wherever the family landed. As more children were born (four in all), as more grandchildren and great-grands, and nieces and nephews came along, she spread her love even wider. She sewed well and taught both daughters to sew; eventually Raggedy Anns and Andys became her specialty. She made the best pies around and at Christmas she made tons of cookies to give to family and neighbors, even shipping them, especially gingerbread men, cross-country to grands and greats.

Claire and Mac were Scout leaders of Brownies and Girl Scouts, and Cub and Boy Scouts. As soon as all her children were in school, Mom started working with the school lunch program. Later on she worked for the Navy and then for the Civil Service Bureau for many years. After traveling so many years with the military, they bought a camper and traveled the US for decades, after Mac retired, once to the West to see some national parks and then to go to the Olympics.

Clarissa is survived by daughter, Judith, and husband, Doug, of Oxford NC, daughter, Bernita, and son, John, of Raleigh NC, daughter-in-law, Julee; seven grandchildren, Jeff and wife Michel, Kerry, Tara and husband Bill, Wendy, Michael and wife Anna; and Skylar and Shane; six great-grandchildren, Ryan, Calder, Molly, Drake, Luke, and Dylan, dozens of well-loved nieces and nephews, and good neighbors and friends. She will be greatly missed.

A funeral service for Clarissa will be held on Saturday, September 16, 2023 at 3:30pm at Brown Wynne Funeral Home, 1701 E. Millbrook Road, Raleigh, NC, 27609. The family will receive guests after the service.

If you would like to join the funeral service via Zoom, information is listed below.

Clarissa McClure Memorial

Sep 16, 2023, 3:30pm

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84205102285?pwd=WXFUVi9Yck9JQUlYUXpuZ2lkUy9HUT09

Meeting ID: 842 0510 2285

Passcode: 698410

Dial in: 929 436 2866

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