Obituary for Sandra Kay McClure (McInroe)
Sandra Kay McInroe McClure went to be with the Lord on August 13, 2022. She was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma on July 6, 1943.
She was the daughter of Walter Boyd McInroe and Thelma Ellen Farris. She was married to James “Jim” Charles McClure on August 26, 1962 which was just a few days shy of 60 years.
She was a member of Windsor Park Baptist Church. Through the years she taught Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, led youth, and sang on a youth revival team from Kelly Heights Baptist Church.
In 1975 she worked with the Vietnamese refugees as at teacher at Fort Chafee. Her first love was teaching art as a profession. She taught over 8,000 students at Alma Middle School from 1976-2014. During her 35 years of teaching, she had numerous students who won local, regional, state, and international competitions. In 1996, her peers awarded her Middle Level Art Educator of the Year. She also won numerous awards for her art and photography. Sandra worked as an International Exchange Coordinator for EF for over 30 years. This enabled her to travel all over the world and work with hundreds of foreign exchange students.
Sandra spent her life touching children’s lives through encouragement and building self-esteem. She loved her husband, children and grandchildren with all her heart and used her abilities to enhance their lives. Christmas, birthdays, and other occasions were always fun and special. She hopes she will be remembered as someone who was a Christian and touched the lives of others as she graduated into heaven.
Sandra is survived by her husband James Charles McClure; one daughter Michele Renee Green and husband Steve of Fort Smith, AR; one son James Michael McClure and wife Kim of Troup, TX; Her life was enriched by her grandchildren: Jeremy Charles Goforth and wife Jessie of Van Buren, AR; Bethany Paige McClure of Rusk, TX; Kaleigh Michele McClure of Troup, TX; and James Caleb McClure of Troup, TX. She also has two great grandchildren: Jasmine Renee Goforth and Jasper Charles Goforth of Van Buren, AR; Aunt Juanita Farris Bean, and niece Kelly McInroe.
Her additional children were her exchanged students: Anne Huotarinent, Finland; Anna Partanen, Finland; Soile Saarnio, Finland; Nadia Nicole Ariza Rueda, Columbia; Julia Herrmann, France; Jeanne Brunner, Switzerland; Cecilie Taranger, Norway.
Funeral service will be 10:00 AM Wednesday, August 17, 2022 at Ocker Memorial Chapel in Van Buren with burial at Gill Cemetery under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home of Van Buren. The family will visit with friends from 5:00 until 7:00 PM Tuesday, August 16, 2022 at Ocker Memorial Chapel, 700 Jefferson, Van Buren, AR.
Pallbearers will be Jeremy Goforth, Todd Humble, David Crabtree, Tommy Farris, Ryan McClure, Caleb McClure, Lance Williams and Enoch Hein.
She was the daughter of Walter Boyd McInroe and Thelma Ellen Farris. She was married to James “Jim” Charles McClure on August 26, 1962 which was just a few days shy of 60 years.
She was a member of Windsor Park Baptist Church. Through the years she taught Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, led youth, and sang on a youth revival team from Kelly Heights Baptist Church.
In 1975 she worked with the Vietnamese refugees as at teacher at Fort Chafee. Her first love was teaching art as a profession. She taught over 8,000 students at Alma Middle School from 1976-2014. During her 35 years of teaching, she had numerous students who won local, regional, state, and international competitions. In 1996, her peers awarded her Middle Level Art Educator of the Year. She also won numerous awards for her art and photography. Sandra worked as an International Exchange Coordinator for EF for over 30 years. This enabled her to travel all over the world and work with hundreds of foreign exchange students.
Sandra spent her life touching children’s lives through encouragement and building self-esteem. She loved her husband, children and grandchildren with all her heart and used her abilities to enhance their lives. Christmas, birthdays, and other occasions were always fun and special. She hopes she will be remembered as someone who was a Christian and touched the lives of others as she graduated into heaven.
Sandra is survived by her husband James Charles McClure; one daughter Michele Renee Green and husband Steve of Fort Smith, AR; one son James Michael McClure and wife Kim of Troup, TX; Her life was enriched by her grandchildren: Jeremy Charles Goforth and wife Jessie of Van Buren, AR; Bethany Paige McClure of Rusk, TX; Kaleigh Michele McClure of Troup, TX; and James Caleb McClure of Troup, TX. She also has two great grandchildren: Jasmine Renee Goforth and Jasper Charles Goforth of Van Buren, AR; Aunt Juanita Farris Bean, and niece Kelly McInroe.
Her additional children were her exchanged students: Anne Huotarinent, Finland; Anna Partanen, Finland; Soile Saarnio, Finland; Nadia Nicole Ariza Rueda, Columbia; Julia Herrmann, France; Jeanne Brunner, Switzerland; Cecilie Taranger, Norway.
Funeral service will be 10:00 AM Wednesday, August 17, 2022 at Ocker Memorial Chapel in Van Buren with burial at Gill Cemetery under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home of Van Buren. The family will visit with friends from 5:00 until 7:00 PM Tuesday, August 16, 2022 at Ocker Memorial Chapel, 700 Jefferson, Van Buren, AR.
Pallbearers will be Jeremy Goforth, Todd Humble, David Crabtree, Tommy Farris, Ryan McClure, Caleb McClure, Lance Williams and Enoch Hein.