Melissa McClure

CHILLICOTHE - Melissa McClure, 50, of Chillicothe died in the arms of her wife at 2:13 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, 2014, at the OSF Richard L. Owens Hospice Home in Peoria.

Melissa courageously fought a three-year battle of ovarian cancer with grace and humor. She characterized the term "survivor" with a "never give up" attitude. Despite being given a terminal prognosis by doctors at age 14, with a debilitating liver disease, she lived her entire life to the absolute fullest extent.

Melissa was born Dec. 8, 1963, in Peoria, the youngest daughter of Charles and Charity (Steele) McClure of Springfield, Mo. Both of her parents survive. Melissa married her partner of 16 years, Dr. Lisa L. Rogers, on Aug. 25, 2014, in Santa Fe, N.M.

She also leaves behind her siblings, Brenda McClure of Clackamas, Ore., Nick (Sharon) McClure of Springfield, Mo., and Cindy (Larry) Williams of Dixie, Wash.; and many nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews.

Melissa was a 1981 graduate of Woodruff High School. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from Millikin University in 1986, with a degree in philosophy. She earned a Master of Arts from Bradley University in 1999.

Melissa worked as a youth and family counselor with the Youth and Community Services program at Fayette Companies for 13 years.

To know Melissa was to love Melissa. She returned to graduate school to become a counselor, which became much more than a vocation for her. She was interested in people and always took time out of her day to better understand others. Even during her time of illness, she made an effort to know her nurses and her health care team on a personal level. She made jokes and shared stories and pictures with staff during her hospital stays. Melissa loved unconditionally and without judgment. Her support system came from many walks of life who all had one thing in common . . . they loved her.

Melissa took joy in listening rather than speaking at times, but she also felt very comfortable with sharing her opinions (whether you wanted to hear them or not). She loved a good debate and enjoyed discussing everything from politics to current events to pop culture.

Melissa was a reader, a bicyclist, a gardener, adventurist, music enthusiast and so much more. Those were all her hobbies to her, but at her core was that she was a friend. She loved with all her being and she let her feelings be known. She was a true woman of integrity who lived every ounce of her life authentically. She invested her life in love, and for that, we were all filled with meaningful lives.

A memorial service will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, 2014, at Prospect United Methodist Church in Dunlap, with the Rev. Steve Pichaske officiating. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12, 2014, at the church.

Memorial donations can be made to Soldier Ride through the Wounded Warrior Project.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.thewiltonmortuary.com.