David Mcclure

Our dear brother and friend, David Carleton McClure, passed away in the home he shared with his sister Sherri Razo, on Sunday morning, January 26, 2020. His sudden passing has been a heartbreaking shock to all who knew him, as he was such a radiant and positive presence in our lives.

David was born in Sanford, FL to parents Meredith and James McClure, Jr, but spent much of his life residing in different states, the last many years living with family in Texas. David's early years were spent in Hawaii, California, and later in Vermont, where he graduated from Poultney High School in 1982. While at Poultney, David was an athlete playing both football and baseball. In football, he was a tough competitor known for his speed. As a pitcher, he had a snappy fastball that popped when you caught it (in other words, it hurt your hand). David played varsity baseball for his junior year. David had a great sense of humor and was a creative prankster to his older brothers. Even in high school, David's smile and personality were magnetic and brought him many friends.
In his senior year of high school, David was involved in a terrible car accident that caused a traumatic brain injury (TBI). He battled a difficult and painful recovery, defying many odds and demonstrating his true grit. One of David's prized memories was the letter of encouragement he received from Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steeler player, Rocky Bleier. The injury had lifelong, profound disability consequences, but he came into his own groove of life, and lived with tremendous zest and laughter. David's million-watt smile was infectious, and his loving and kind spirit influenced everyone around him.
He spent his young adult years in Florida, Pennsylvania, and Washington before moving permanently to Texas. There he became involved with the Pilot Club TBI Camps, where he made many deep and lasting friendships with some of the kindest and most loving folks on Earth. He loved traveling to Mountain High Camp in New Mexico every August to enjoy the beautiful cool mountain vistas with his TBI pals and family. Through the kind support of Krista and Bo, he also traveled regularly to other TBI camps around Texas, attending chili cook-offs, dances, and generally wherever a good time might be happening! Everyone knew David LOVED everything hot and spicy! His ability to eat jalapenos was legendary.
David was close with his sister Sherri and his nephew Michael, with whom he lived and spent years having adventures and fits of laughter and fun, but also weathering challenges, like the wrath of Hurricane Harvey and the coming and going of many beloved pet dogs. Every summer and Thanksgiving, David also visited his sister Leah and his brother-in-law Johnny in central PA on their vegetable farm, where he was a beloved, industrious figure working in the barn shelling peas, or in the field harvesting crops, spreading mulch, or happily completing any farm task that was asked of him. David was an awesome sous chef in Leah's kitchen, where he would chop and clean vegetables for hours. Always helpful! He maintained many friendships in PA and VT, and all across the nation over the years -- too many to count! Thanksgivings were often spent at his Uncle Alan and Aunt Winnie Grace's lovely Victorian home (where many epic games of dominoes unfolded) in Middletown Springs, VT, where he also rabble roused at Jamie Wescott's fall deer camp, and drank many, many cups of coffee with his close and long-time friends, Lincoln and Susan Porter. He was a competitive bocce ball player (hillbilly rules!), liked football, and liked to attend local minor league baseball games in PA. David was a tremendous artist (voted Best Artist in High School), and over the years made all kinds of artwork. He specialized in artcards, which he would draw for his friends, family and camp buddies. His cards have brought joy to many and have been sent around the world. He had a creative and quirky approach to his art characters that matched his mischievous smile and twinkle in his eye. Anyone who knew him also knew how much he loved the music of the 70's -- definitely his favorite genre, and many evenings were spent singing and rollicking to hits from the Beatles and Crosby, Stills, and Nash.
So much more could be said about David's love of life and wisdom despite his many disability constraints. He shared with all who were fortunate enough to know him a grace and human dignity that taught us many lessons on what really matters most in this brief and gorgeous life on Earth. May his light and laughter shine on in all of us who walked his path with him -- he will be truly missed. In addition to his two sisters, David is survived by his brothers, Jim Roberts, Jay McClure, and Jon Roberts, his nephew Michael Razo, several cousins, countless friends, and his beloved goddaughters Sydney and Jordan.

If you would like to make a donation in David's memory, he would have loved any contributions made to help his favorite TBI camps:
Texas Pilot TBI Camps, Inc.
c/o Joanna Horton
PO Box 732
Winnsboro, TX 75494

We have some awesome YouTube videos of David working on his sister's farm in PA that you are sure to enjoy. Please cut and paste these two different links to watch our favorite guy having fun on the farm. Naturally his smile lights up the camera!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRbHZYpxdbE
(David doing fall mulching)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqc6v3SZO_o
(David cleaning out a leek bed)

Celebration of Life
February 2nd, 2020 from 3-5pm
at the home of Sherri Razo