John N. McClure, born June 1, 1913, in Beeson Works, PA, died on Sunday, April 13, 2008, in Franklin, NC.
He will live on in the memory of his wife of 25 years, Marian Randel McClure, and his family, Gus and Michele McClure McMahon, Garrett and Addison McMahon Martin and their daughter MacKenzie, Maqelle McMahon, Robin McClure Henry, Morgan Jennings, Gary and Pamela McClure Setser, Justin and Kara Setser, Felicia Contino, of Franklin, Sylva and Asheville, K.O. Randel Colonel, M.C. Retired of Sneads Ferry, NC, and Mr. McClure’s sister, Bess G. Keefer of Waxhaw, NC.
Mr. McClure was preceded in death by his wife, Jayne Rush McClure, of Uniontown, PA, his parents, Joseph and Bessie Gwendolyn LaClair McClure of Uniontown, PA, and brothers Joseph Cameron, Ned LeClere, Harry, William Clark, Robert Rolland, and Jack Calvin.
He moved to Franklin from Hollywood, Florida, in 1979, when he retired. He was a member of St. Agnes Episcopal Church. A hunter and gun enthusiast, he crafted fine gunstocks and grips and enjoyed reloading ammunition for his guns. He was talented in metal works of wrought iron, brass and other materials creating many unique things for friends and family. In 1954, he built a sports car with the body of a “reworked” 1949 Ford Coupe. For several years, he was a pit crewmember of the Briggs Cunningham Racing Team at the Sebring International Raceway in Sebring, FL. In 1960, he built a telescope with tracking abilities so that he could study the skies and take pictures of the moon and planets. In 1999, he created a cannon that used a mixture of acetylene gas and oxygen to fire and he dedicated it to family friend, Brigadier General Joseph Watson, retired, long time City Manager of Hollywood, FL. It was fired to welcome in the millennium and on other festive occasions. The cannon, which is now on display at the Charles Hall Museum in Tellico Plains, TN, was the topic of an interview by John Boyle that appeared in the Asheville Citizens Times.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, April 17, at the St. Agnes Episcopal Church. Burial will be in Addison, PA.
Memorials may be made to the Macon Co. Public Library, 819 Siler Road, Franklin, NC 28734 or Hospice House Foundation, PO Box 815, Franklin, NC 28744.
Macon Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Online condolences can be made @www.maconfuneralhome.com

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