Dr. Lawrence “Mac” McClure passed away Friday, Nov. 10, 2017, at Murphy Medical Center Nursing home from complications of vascular dementia, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. His family was by his side.
Mac was born in Youngstown, Ohio, on July 29, 1942. His family moved to the Miami area when he was a small child.
He graduated from Hialeah High School in 1960 and joined the Air Force right out of high school. There he spent four years in the military in Sacramento, Calif.
He met his future wife, Ginger Postell, and they were married in September 1964, a day after his honorable discharge from the military. He joked he was trading in one drill sergeant for another.
Not only did Mac gain a new wife, but a new family that he totally cherished. He and Ginger spent the next 10 months living in Miami before returning to California.
Mac received an associate in arts degree from American River Junior College in Sacramento, and a bachelor of arts degree from the University of California Davis Campus. He earned a Ph.D. degree in psychology from the University of Connecticut.
He then accepted a teaching position in the psychology department at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, S.C., in 1975, where he taught until he retired in 2001. He was a popular, well-liked professor with his colleagues, and also was adored by his students – unless they were taking methodology and statistics.
He also was president of his own consulting firm, Organizational Dynamics Consultants of S.C. Inc., consulting with local government and state health agencies.
After retirement, Mac accepted a consulting position with Kaiser Permanante in Pasadena, Calif., and worked there for two years. He left that position in order to return to South Carolina and move his parents from Miami to live with him and his wife.
Mac attended Treholm Road United Methodist Church in Columbia, S.C.
Mac was preceded in death by his parents, Ruth Semple McClure and John R. McClure.
He leaves behind his wife of 54 years, Ginger; and a son, Douglas Ford McClure of Hardwick, Vt.; a brother, Bob McClure and wife Brenda of Atlanta, Ga.; cousins, Sandy McClure of Tallahassee, Fla., and William Paul “Chip” McClure of Miami, Ann Semple Trice, Margaret Semple Cracroft, William Ogilvie Semple, Paul Ogilvie Semple Jr. of Camden, S.C., Lucille Leonhart of Canfield, Ohio; in-laws, Bobbie Mason of Andrews, Johnny Postell of Atlanta, Doug and Carolyn Postell of Andrews, Shelby and Nelson Younce of Marble, James Austin “Butch” and Judy Postell of Andrews, Sandy and Harry Moore of Orlando, Fla., and Jackie Douthit of Andrews. He was deeply loved by numerous nieces and nephews and the much loved son-in-law of the late Rev. France Postell and Isma Postell.
Mac was a well-liked and fun loving, generous, kind person whose consistent laughter brightened everyone’s life around him. He loved the outdoors, hiking and canoeing down the Nantahala River with his son, weekend camping trips, and going to bluegrass festivals with Ginger and Johnny and Johnny’s late wife, Joan. He loved to sing and dance like no one was watching. He gave the fish a good laugh on his few fishing trips with his son.
His wife often said, “Let’s just take the bait money and buy some fish.”
Mac always enjoyed coming to North Carolina, where he ate good Southern cooking and joined in the family gatherings with much wit and raillery.
He also liked to play pranks on his nephews and in-laws, always getting a good laugh when they pranked him back. He was an all-around good sport and valiant friend.
Mac will be sorely missed by all those who knew and loved him, for he touched every person’s life that he encountered. He truly demonstrated that life is what you chose to make it, not what a prognosis says it is, as he made many new friends while at the Murphy Medical Center Alzheimer’s unit, where he served as a source of encouragement and comfort for the other patients.
Mac truly embraced others with compassion. He walked to the edge and finished; although we heard the silence in between the notes he sang, he didn’t lose his child’s heart for fun, play and banter.
Although pain permeates our hearts for our loss, hope prevails as we carry much love with us and warm memories until we meet again.
Visitation was held from 6-6:45 p.m. Monday, Nov. 13, at the Townson-Rose Chapel in Andrews, with a celebration of Mac’s life immediately following. Family will be conducting the service. Burial was in the Red Marble Baptist Church Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Western Carolina Chapter 3800 Shamrock Drive, Charlotte, NC 28215.
You may send tributes to the McClure family at www.townson-rose.com.
Townson-Rose Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.