Irene McClure Obituary

Irene Victoria McClure (née Boris) was a devoted wife, loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and a woman whose faith and strength left an indelible mark on all who knew her.

Irene passed away peacefully at home on July 7, 2025, surrounded by the love and warmth of her family.

She was preceded in death by her parents, most of her siblings, her beloved son Steven, and her husband and lifelong partner, Charles. She is survived by her sister, Jane Falting, who lovingly called her Irenebug; her children, Tamilla McClure, Charlynn McClure, and Charles McClure II; her grandchildren, Samantha, Victoria, Becky, William, Steven, Heather, and Timothy; and her great-grandchildren, Kaidyn, Dominic, Adalyn, Liam, Wyatt, Elliott, Wesley, Holley, Teddy, and Hazelyn.

Irene was born on March 18, 1947, and her journey through life was one of love, resilience, and deep-rooted faith. At just 16, she met Charles, the love of her life. They married on March 18, 1965, in Boyne City-a union built on shared dreams, mutual respect, and a bond that would see them through the many adventures ahead.

After welcoming their first child, Tamilla, in Michigan, they moved to Colorado, where their family continued to grow. In 1973, the McClure family set their sights on Alaska, chasing a dream of living off the land. Though their journey was briefly paused in Montana due to car trouble, they pressed on and made it to Alaska in the winter of 1974. There, they built a life off the grid-one filled with challenges that Irene met with unmatched strength and grace. In 1985, the family returned to Michigan and eventually settled back in Boyne City, where she and Charles would spend the rest of their days.

Irene's life was grounded in her unwavering faith in God. Her relationship with Him was not just something she spoke about-it was something she lived. Her kindness, patience, and strength were a reflection of that faith. She truly was a woman after God's own heart.

She was also a pioneer woman in every sense of the word-vibrant, resilient, and grounded. Whether she was raising her children in the wilds of Alaska, hunting alongside her husband, or dancing at formal events, she brought the same grace and joy to everything she did.

Irene had many talents and hobbies-she found joy in baking, gardening, crocheting, and music. She was known for her delicious cookies, lovingly made for her children and grandchildren. But more than that, she was known for her songs. Irene had a tune for every moment-whether joyful, funny, or solemn. One of her great-granddaughters' favorite memories was singing "A Bushel and a Peck" with her, a song that will now forever carry her voice in their hearts.

Her life was a living testimony of love for her husband, for her children and grandchildren, and for the God she served. She showed us how to live with purpose, how to face hardship with dignity, and how to love without condition.

Irene will be laid to rest beside her beloved Charles at Great Lakes National Cemetery-a fitting place of honor for the extraordinary woman who stood so faithfully beside her husband and served her family with quiet strength and joy.

Though we grieve her passing, we are grateful for the gift of her life, and we rejoice in the legacy she leaves behind. Her spirit will live on in the songs we sing, the stories we share, and the love we carry forward.

Please share your stories and memories of Irene in the "share a memory" section.

Arrangements were entrusted to Nelsons Funeral Home, PO Box 1548, Gaylord, MI 49734.