Mae Vonne McClure

**Beloved Matriarch and Devoted Friend**

Mae Vonne McClure, 93, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, passed away peacefully on August 7, 2025, in Norman, Oklahoma. Full of warmth, wisdom, and steadfast devotion, Mae Vonne touched the lives of countless friends and family throughout her remarkable journey.

Born on March 19, 1932, in Elizabethtown, North Carolina, to Henry Lee Hudson Sr. and Mae Belle Hudson, Mae Vonne was raised with strong family values that would define her life. She graduated from White Oak High School in 1950, where her athletic prowess was legendary—she played both softball and basketball, famously scoring 50 points in her final basketball game as a senior. Mae Vonne formed deep friendships during her school years and cherished those connections for a lifetime.

Following high school, Mae Vonne began her career as a switchboard operator with Carolina Telephone and Telegraph in Fayetteville, North Carolina, working her way up as the company evolved into United Telecommunications and later, Sprint. While working, she attended business school, always striving to learn and do her best. Her dedication and work ethic led to a promotion and a move to Whiteville, North Carolina, where she devoted most of her 42-year career until retiring in 1994.

On October 14, 1956, Mae Vonne married the love of her life, Earl Hood McClure. The couple shared 61 wonderful years filled with joy, laughter, and tireless devotion to each other. Their family grew with the arrival of their son, Douglas Earl McClure, on December 31, 1963—a moment that Mae Vonne often described as life-changing and her proudest accomplishment. The McClures settled in Elizabethtown, where they built a home, a life, and a legacy over 50 years. In 2013, seeking family togetherness, Mae Vonne and Earl moved to Norman, Oklahoma, to be close to Doug and his family—a move that brought her even greater joy in her later years.

Mae Vonne was passionate about many things: she loved sports and continued to play softball through her 40s. She reveled in watching Doug excel in sports, music, and later, umpiring, but said she wanted him to dance more on TV when working the Savannah Bananas games and delighted in following her grandchildren’s adventures from the stands—never missing a game or recital. With Earl, she traveled throughout North America to 43 states and Canada, always making room to explore new sights and experiences as a family.

A woman of boundless creativity, Mae Vonne was known for her handiwork. She created beautiful Christmas crafts, cross-stitched personalized stockings, and adorned her home so festively that every room had a Christmas tree. Christmas was her favorite season, and her family treasures these handmade keepsakes.

A lifelong and devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Mae Vonne was baptized at age 12 and served countless times as President of the Relief Society and Children’s Primary. She was a natural leader, a dedicated teacher, and a nurturing friend who fostered faith and kindness in every life she touched.

Mae Vonne is survived by her devoted son, Douglas Earl McClure, and his wife Linda Marie (Evans) of Norman, Oklahoma; her grandchildren, Brandi Marie and her husband Garrett Street of Starkville, Mississippi, and Hudson Earl McClure of Norman, Oklahoma; and her great-grandchildren, Parker Evans and Brooklyn Marie Street. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and countless cherished friends and extended family.

She will be remembered for her honesty, leadership, loving heart, and the lessons she taught all: to be kind, honest, work hard, love deeply, and put family first. Mae Vonne’s legacy of love, faith, honesty, and kindness will live on in all those whose lives she touched. A testament to a life richly lived and deeply cherished.

A celebration of Mae Vonne’s life will be held on Saturday, August 16, 2025, at 11:00 am at Bladen Gaskins Funeral Home in Elizabethtown, North Carolina, with Interment to follow at Bladen Memorial Gardens Cemetery.