Katherine Jane McClure

Long time Annapolis resident, Katherine Jane Delaney McClure led a life committed to family and community activities died on May 17, 2016 at the age of 96. She loved to read, cook, garden, people watch, share her good fortune with others and be outdoors in the mountains. Jane was born on May 16, 1920, in Charleston WV, the daughter of Richard Riley Delaney III and Edna Mae Walker Delaney and grew up there with younger sister Nancy and brother Richard. At University of West Virginia she met George McClure. They dreamed of building a modern house together and Jane graduated as an art teacher in 1942. When the US entered WWII and George joined the Navy, the couple married in early 1943 and moved west to be near his Alameda CA base. They moved to Baltimore, Maryland in 1947 with daughter Rebecca, soon buying a house in the new suburb of Harundale. Jane and George were active in community development activities: including establishing the Harundale Presbyterian Church. During this time, they had two sons, Richard and John. They also opened their small home to family members, first Jane's sister Nancy or a year or so, and then to George's aging parents Alice and George Sr. Jane and George realized their dream of building a modern house near the water in Winchester on Severn. Jane continued her active life in the League of Women Voters, Christian education at the First Presbyterian Church in Annapolis, attended drawing and painting classes and cared for her three children, husband and aging parents-in-law. Later, Jane and George opened their home to a stream of international students at the Christmas holiday and to three foster daughters, two of whom became family. Jane and George continued their love of the outdoors by camping and hiking, sharing this with the youth groups at the church and eventually walking much of the Appalachian Trail. There were many changes for Jane in 1973. Rebecca and her family moved to Australia, George and Jane sold the modern house in Winchester and moved to Taney Avenue within an easy walk of downtown Annapolis. Jane and her friend since Harundale Frances (Frankie) Edwards opened 'Pottery and Things' on State Circle. Jane met a network of production potters, handmade textile and toy makers, woodworkers and country antiques sellers on buying trips for the shop. A shop on State Circle was a wonderful opportunity for a dedicated people watcher, natural educator and regular campaigner in local politics. Jane and George continued to invite international students into their home. Jane took the opportunity to expand her cooking repertoire; claiming 'international gourmet cooking' as her hobby. Jane and George visited their grandchildren in Australia several times and the girls spent a year with them in Annapolis in 1980. The development of Maryland Hall provided Jane an opportunity to study sculpture and painting. She was also active in the Ikebana group locally and across the Washington, D.C. area. After George died in 1988 and the shop closed, Jane devoted more time to sculpture and painting. She continued to open her home to divinity students who were interning at Annapolis Hospital, and to host international students. The many small positive interactions: in the kitchen, chatting at the table, providing clean sheets and comfort add up to a major impact on the lives of individuals. Jane was a member of the Pastor Nominating Committee in 1998-99 and as a member of the Spiritual Growth Group at the First Presbyterian Church and a member of the Scrabble Team. Jane McClure lived at Ginger Cove for the last twelve years, active in community life as a Scrabble player and volunteer at the boutique, keen concert goer and participant in the daily group activities. One of her last political acts was to cast an absentee ballot for Barack Obama in 2012. Katherine Jane Delaney McClure is survived by her three children, Rebecca, Richard and John, foster daughter Clevie O. Morris, seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. In celebration of Jane's life a worship service will be held at the First Presbyterian Church, 171 Duke of Gloucester Street, Annapolis MD on Thursday June 2, at 3:00PM, with a reception to follow at the church. In lieu of flowers the family wishes a donation be made in the name of Jane McClure to the Memorial Fund of the First Presbyterian Church.