Donna Rae McClure of Orlando, FL passed away peacefully at ORMC Cornerstone Hospice on Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018. She was 75 years old, and a member of the Church of the Nazarene. She was born in New Bedford, MA on Jan. 19, 1943, the first of three daughters to the late Raymond R. and Louise Tripp Lienard. She is survived by two sons, Ronald Wade and Randall Ward McClure; sister, Diana Lienard Cox; daughter-in-law, Jeanne M. McClure; grandchildren, Christian Tyler McClure and Scarlett Rhae McClure; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. She is preceded in death by her parents, her beloved son, Raymond Wayne McClure, and her sister, Linda Jean Arnold.
Donna moved with her family to Florida in 1948 and grew up in Winter Park. She attended schools in the area and graduated from Edgewater High School in 1960. She married Terry M. McClure and began life as a USAF military wife. While still stationed at Orlando AFB, their first son, Raymond, was born. After their duty in FL, they were sent to Hickam AFB, Hawaii, where sons, Ronald and Randall, were born. Their next station was Langley AFB in Hampton, VA and from there to Elmendorf AFB in Anchorage, Alaska, a place the whole family loved. Donna was an active military wife and was very involved in her boys’ sports and activities. She also had a great job with the municipality of Anchorage. They left Alaska to be stationed at Charleston AFB in North Charleston, SC where she became divorced and a single mother. Donna went to work for Storer Cable where she was tops in sales. She loved her job, but when Hurricane Hugo hit Charleston in 1998, all cable in the city was destroyed. It was then that Donna decided to move back home to Orlando to be close to her family. While she was waiting to be hired by Cablevision of Central Florida, she worked at Gary’s Duck Inn, a popular seafood restaurant. She was finally hired by Cablevision, which became Time Warner and finally BrightHouse. She was coined “Cable Lady” and was always a leader in sales. Donna loved her job which spanned 24 years before her retirement in 2013. She was a natural sales person, and her dad used to say’ “she could sell someone the Brooklyn Bridge”.
Donna had a great love and passion for her family and was devastated in 2014 with the untimely death of her firstborn son, Ray. She never really recovered from that tragedy, but concentrated her life on her two sons and grandchildren. This last year in Donna’s life was difficult as her health was declining and she began having headaches and mobility problems. On Oct. 3 rd she was admitted to the hospital where she received a diagnosis of stage 4 lung cancer that had metastasized to the brain. Following surgery she was able to return home which was what she desperately wanted. Donna realized she had been given a gift of time to get things right in her life and in her faith. She drew so close to the Lord in those weeks and told everyone who would listen of her renewed her faith. She wanted more time and wanted to tell everyone to never smoke, and how she wished she had never picked up that first cigarette.
Donna had 5 weeks at home seeing family and friends whom she loved. Thank you to all who reached out to her and helped her in so many ways. She was so appreciative of the many kindnesses shown to her. Thank you to her home care hospice nurses and to the Cornerstone Hospice staff at ORMC for the wonderful care they gave Donna.
To honor Donna’s wishes there will only be a private family memorial. If you wish, you may make donations in her name to Cornerstone Hospice, 2445 Lane Park Road, Tavares, FL 32778. Phone 352-728-6234.