Michael McClure

Calling hours Friday, July 2, 2021 from 10:00 a.m. until time of service at 12:00 p.m. at Triedstone Missionary Baptist Church, 858 E. 3rd Avenue, Columbus, Ohio, 43201. Interment Green Lawn Cemetery.

Michael Ray McClure, affectionately known as “Mike,” was born August 3, 1959 in Columbus, Ohio.  He was the tenth child of eleven and had his own way of establishing his prominence in a loving family filled with joy, happiness, laughter, and fun.  He was baptized at Brentnell Church of Christ of the Apostolic Faith and later rededicated his life to Christ in March of 2021.

Michael attended Ohio Avenue Elementary, Franklin Junior High, and was a proud 1977 graduate of Mohawk Junior and Senior High School where he dazzled his classmates with his knowledge about any and everything, including his keen sense of fashion and salesmanship.

He was little in stature, but big in every other way.  Whether it was with his bare hands or via one of his many connections, he could and would fix anything.  He was the “go to” for everything and what he did not know, he always seemed to be able to find. His mantra in life was that “no job is hard as long as you have the right tools .”

He was an avid traveler and collector of many things – especially hats, not ball caps, but real hats.  He had a wardrobe that represented every decade in history and an entire room dedicated to his passion of “finding a good lick” his words for finding one heck of a deal.  He loved music, had a great voice and could always be found humming while performing his many tasks, including, but not limited to his flourishing flower and vegetable gardens at home and throughout the community.

To know Michael was to love Michael. He never met a stranger, freely spoke his mind, had advice to give whether you wanted it or not and was a true friend to all.  “Mr. Mike” loved his neighbors and was commonly referred to as the mayor of his street. It was not unusual to find him checking on neighbors – big and small and they in turn checked on him.  He played a significant role in the life of his nieces and nephews – those related by blood or those he adopted and made his own after the first introduction, all who lovingly called him “Uncle Mike.”

Michael was charming, charismatic and had enough confidence to fill an entire room.  As such, it was no surprise that 30 years ago he met a complete stranger and declared “ you gonna be my wife.”   As only he would have it, Mike spent 25 years married to his help mate, Rene Anderson – McClure, who loved him unconditionally. While Michael was many things to many people, one of the things he most enjoyed about life was being a father to his children and a grandfather to his only grandchild.

Mike is preceded in death by his parents Willis & Emma McClure, Sr.; brothers, Willis McClure, Jr., Harold McClure and Steve McClure and sisters; Dorothy (Phillip) Callender and Marilyn Alarcon; brother-in-laws, Charles Rutherford, Sr.  and Warren Wright.  He leaves to cherish his memory; wife, Rene Anderson-McClure; son, Jeremy Anderson and daughters, Brandi Anderson, Chapelle McClure, and Lacey Byrom-McClure; grandchild, Amoni McCreary; brothers, Douglas (Stella), Quincy, all of Columbus, Ohio, and Steve Pilgrim, Spartanburg, S.C.; sisters, Earline Wright, Brooklyn, NY, Dr. Alsonia Rutherford, and JoAnn (Luther) Henley; Mother-in-law, Gracie Gibson; sister-in-laws, Gwendolyn McClure and Sherry Jackson; brother-in-law, Darrell Jackson; a host of nieces and nephews; extended family members and friends.

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