Boilermaker, inventor and entrepreneur, Gary Wayne McClure, 85, of Alum Creek, W. Va. passed from this life at home surrounded by his family Tuesday, May 31, 2022 after a short illness.
Gary was born at home in Yawkey, W. Va. April 1, 1937 to Glen Kenneth McClure and Gladys Effie Worstell McClure. Stubborn from the start, he refused to breathe. As the story goes, the country doctor gave him up for dead. His maternal grandmother would not allow it. She worked with him; dipping him into a tub of cool water, then a tub of warm water, trying to shock his system to life. She repeatedly tossed him into the air. Finally, he gasped his first breath of life. It was one adventure after another for the next eight and a half decades.
A 1955 graduate of Duval High School, Gary, named after actor Gary Cooper, learned to play the guitar for his senior play. He worked as a bridge painter and taught himself to scuba dive for a specific project. He was a surveyor for Interstate 81 in the Martinsburg, W. Va. area. That was the summer he and a buddy wrestled a gorilla in a traveling circus side show that had set up in town for the week. He proudly served in the Air National Guard.
Gary met Joyce Kay George, the love of his life, at the Coal River Bridge on Route 214 that ties Lincoln County with Kanawha County in Alum Creek. He once baked her a pineapple upside down cake and mailed it to her college dorm. They were married Dec. 3, 1960.
He was a storyteller, farmer, hunter, white-water canoeist, private pilot, world traveler and antique car enthusiast. Gary and his sons cleared land and built a home atop a mountain in the 1980s. It became a refuge and gathering place for friends and family far and wide. It was the place he loved best and the place he took his last breath.
Gary and Kay built an international business, Walhonde Tools, Inc., to manufacture and distribute industrial tools for which he was granted eight United States patents. The tools are used in heavy industry for tube and pipe alignment. The United States Navy and SpaceX are among their many clients.
He was deeply devoted to his faith and an active member of the Church of God Sabbath Fellowship.
Gary is preceded in death by his parents, Glen Kenneth McClure and Gladys Effie Worstell McClure, his father-in-law, Paul Jackson George, his son, Mark Wayne McClure, and his son-in-law, Mark Richard Kiser. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Joyce Kay George McClure; his children, Marta Ree (Robert) Hays, Mark’s widow, Vivian Jane McClure, Matthew Paul McClure, and Christina Kay (Leslie) Carnley; his grandchildren, David (Patricia) Tankersley, Marissa Tankersley, Zak (Meagan) McClure, Paul McClure, Makenzie McClure, Brittany (Ashley) Johnson, Cailin (AJ) Bailey, John McClure, Joshua (Mikaela) Kiser, Rachel (Kade) Doss, Alisha (Jake) Thedford, and Sarah Kiser; his great grandchildren, Jacob White, Jordan Tankersley, Owen Tankersley, Emmersyn Bailey, Maesynn Bailey, Aria Snyder, Rowan Bailey and Franny Jo McClure. He is also survived by his siblings Marvin McClure, Stanley (Linda) McClure, and Lana Turley as well as many beloved nieces, nephews and cousins.
Visitation will commence at 1 p. m. Sunday, June 5 with funeral services at 3 p. m. at Curry Funeral Home in Alum Creek, W. Va. Gary will be laid to rest at Forks of Coal Cemetery also Alum Creek.
Praying for Gary’s beautiful family
What an incredible man! I wish I was able to spend more time with him. I only talked to him for a few minutes, but based on that short interchange, I conclude that two of his greatest attributes are that he was fun and inspiring. His spirit will continue to burn bright.
He was blessed with a beautiful family who loved him dearly. He will sorely be missed.
I enjoyed working with Gary and Kay for the past 50 years. He will be missed.my deepest regrets to all the family.
Thank you.
Kay, Marta, Matt, Christy and families, Rog and I are so very sorry for you loss. Gary lived a big fantastic life. What a blessing your memories of him and his stories will be for you. Our prayers and love are with all of you.
Thank you. He did live a big, fantastic life!
Beautifully written, if I had to guess the author I’d say Marta.
Thank you. You’re a good guesser.