Kenneth Ray McClure

Kenneth Ray McClure, age 62, a resident of Fort Scott, died Saturday, May 16, 2009, at his home following a cancer illness. Kenneth was born March 11, 1947, at Webb City, Mo., the son of Hunter Campbell McClure and Margaret Inez McClure. He graduated from Webb City High School in 1965. Following a spring press accident which nearly cost him his life, Kenny followed the call of God and went into the ministry. He attended Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Mo. and became a licensed ordained minister on July 30, 1967. He married Susan Bassett on June 26, 1970, in Webb City, Mo. Kenny later enlisted with the United States Army where he served as a military policeman. He later worked in Fort Benning, Ga., as a ward master in pediatrics at Martin Army Community Hospital where he helped deliver babies. Kenny and his family moved to Fort Scott, in 1994. He had worked at the Nevada Habilitation Center for 22 years. He retired on March 31. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Fort Scott where he served as a deacon. One of Ken's joys was writing. He was in the process of writing a book titled Pieces of My Mind.

Survivors include his wife, Susan, of the home; a son Bryan McClure and wife, Debbie, Fort Scott; two daughters, Aimee McClure, Pittsburg, Kan., and Amber Goodbody and husband, Ryan, of Fort Scott. Also surviving is his mother, Inez McClure, Webb City, Mo., and a sister, Mary Beth Lane and husband, Doug, St. James, Mo.; and four grandchildren, Macayla, Emma, Brittany and Skyler. He was preceded in death by his father, a grandchild and his grandparents.

Pastor Tim Davish will conduct funeral services at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, May 20, at the First Baptist Church. A graveside service will be held at 2:30 p.m., on Wednesday at the Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery at Joplin, Mo. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to the Lymphoma Society and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of sympathy may be e-mailed to the family at condolences@cheneywitt.com.