Frances Dunlap McClure

Frances was born in Sylvester, Texas to Claudia (nee Boatwright) and Marion Dunlap on July 19, 1934. She is the beloved mother of Rachel (Kevin) Smith and Martha McClure; cherished grandmother of Zachary Pierce, Jacob Pierce, Owen Gibbins, Kaci (David) Ruiz, Kip (Bree) Smith and Robert (Alexandra Gordon) Smith; and treasured great grandmother of Landon, Corbin and Paisley. She is also survived by her dear brother Jack (the late Virginia) Dunlap and sisters-in-law Diana Dunlap and Margaret (Wayland) Jones. She's preceded in death by her beloved husband Dr. Jerry W. McClure, her parents Claudia and Marion, and her siblings John Claude Dunlap, Pauline Adams, Kenneth Dunlap, and Joe David Dunlap. Frances also leaves behind many nieces, nephews, cousins, her life-long friend she considered a sister Roberta Wiedeman, her beloved cat Annie and the most wonderful group of cherished friends in Oxford and across the world. 

Frances and the love of her life Jerry, married on March 5, 1954, in Lubbock, TX and moved to Oxford, OH in 1964, where she quickly became an active member of the community.  She had a lifelong curiosity and spent her life seeking to learn, understand and appreciate cultures different than her own. Through her and Jerry’s passion for people and places across the world, they lived in Germany and Africa, as well as traveled many times throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.   

Frances had a long career at King Library in the Walter Havighurst Special Collections department at Miami University.  She was a Danforth Faculty Associate, President of the McGuffey Laboratory School PTO and the Community Service Program for Foreign Students (COSEP).  She spent many years involved with the Kappa Phi women’s organization at Miami University. In 1987 she was honored to receive Miami’s A.K. Morris Award.   She had a passion for textiles and was a member of and served as the President of the Hand Weavers Guild of America.  Her love of textiles led her to be a benefactor of the Richard and Carole Cocks Art Museum at Miami University, where she established The McClure Family Textile scholarship.  

Frances was an amazing cook; everything was made from scratch. She took great joy in cooking dishes from around the world and sharing them with her family and friends; she was particularly known for baking amazing bread.  She was an accomplished weaver who had several of her pieces exhibited over the years. She volunteered for many years at the Pioneer Farm demonstrating spinning and weaving.   She also created beautiful Nantucket baskets and marbleized paper, which she bound into books or made into cards. She truly was a renaissance woman, if something needed to be done or she was curious about it, she did it.

She was a true believer in giving back and that each person can make a difference in the world. She volunteered for over 30 years with Meals on Wheels, at voting sites, and many other volunteer activities. Those wishing to honor her legacy and make a memorial contribution in Frances' name may donate to Meals on Wheels, Doctor’s Without Borders or your charity of choice. 

Frances chose to be cremated, and her ashes will be scattered in West Texas on the family farm where her husband’s were scattered.  A memorial service for her will be held in Oxford in the Spring.

One of her Favorite songs was “Far Away Places with Strange Sounding Names”, the words to this song sum up Frances well. While our hearts are broken to lose her,  we know she is off on her next grand adventure.

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