Robert Anthony McClure

Robert “Tony” A. McClure went home to be with the Lord at the age of 66 on June 11, 2021. He was born September 2, 1954, to J D and Josephine McClure, and raised in Minden Louisiana. Tony was a loving husband, father, “Pepaw”, and friend. He loved anything to do with the outdoors. He was passionate about hunting, fishing, and outdoor adventures. He especially loved to spend time with his granddaughter who is his pride and joy. Tony was the protector of his family. He would fight a bear for the people he cared about. He was a mountain of a man, with a heart of gold. He was firm in his beliefs and stood behind what he said until the end. Tony worked at LA DOTD for 30+ years and retired in 2008, to move out to his hunting camp in Claiborne Parish to get away from the city. It was not long until he found retirement boring and went back to work for a local engineering firm with some of his old DOTD buddies. He told his son many times, “I’m working harder in my retirement than I did at the job I retired from.” When he was not working, he was going hunting or fishing, or thinking about going. He instilled his love for the outdoors in his son, almost from day one. He talked about taking his son Clint, up in the deer stand in a car seat. There are also pictures of Clint in a diaper, on the lake, in the boat. Shortly after Clint, and daughter-in-law Susan, blessed Tony with his granddaughter Kaylee, he was able to have another little one out with him enjoying the great outdoors. Tony’s was able to personally pass down his passion for hunting and fishing to his granddaughter Kaylee. He was a proud Pepaw when she harvested her first deer in 2020. Anything she did made him happy. He was a gentle man while she was around. Back in August 2010, he purchased a home in Benton La, just a stone’s throw away from a lake he and his son had always liked to fish. This allowed for more time on the water. It seemed, every time Clint called to check on him, he was on the lake. He would send Clint pictures of fish and tell him, “I hope you are having a great day at work!” Living so close to the lake turned him into a “hoarder” of fishing gear. He laughed and told his son “If you gathered up all my fishing junk, we could open up a bait store! I can’t just walk by a bait I use and not buy one. Then when I put it in the boat, I find 6 or 10 more.” Clint never had to bring tackle when fishing with his dad. “I got enough tackle for us and everyone on the lake!” One time, while fishing with Clint, Tony tied a bait, chunked it in the water, and the bait was not connected to the line. “Welp… It’s not like I don’t have 10 more of those, but I really liked that one because it was broke in.” He also enjoyed the open road. In his early 50’s, he picked up riding motorcycles again. It wasn’t shortly after he got his first Harley, he started talking about going to the Sturgis motorcycle rally. In 2008, he purchased his 105th anniversary Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic, and made the trip. He rode from Bossier City, La, all the way to Sturgis SD and back. He was proud that he made that trip, but he said he would never do it again. He said, “camping on the side of the road, riding all those miles, dealing with all that weather, and all the crazy folks, is for a young man.” He never made another long trip like that, but he would always get a wild hair to jump on his bike and “go until I got low on gas, fill up, and turn around and come home.” In November 2019, he found love again and married Mary Susan McClure. Their adventures started day one. From zip-lining, motorcycle riding, hunting, and fishing, there was not much they did not do together. Tony was not a person to lay about. He always wanted to be going and doing, and Mary was by his side to try and keep him in line and remind him he was no longer a spring chicken, and he needed to slow down and enjoy life. On June 1st, Tony fell ill in his home and was rushed to the hospital. After a quick surgery, he was awake, alert, and able to answer questions. During this time, Mary and Clint were able to visit with him and express their love for him and pass along all the well wishes from everyone. One week after falling ill, he suffered a setback, and passed from complications from his illness on June 11th, 2021, with his wife Mary by his side. Tony is preceded in death by his parents, J D and Josephine McClure. Left to cherish his memory and carry on his legacy is his wife, Mary Susan McClure, his Son Clint McClure, wife Susan McClure and granddaughter Kaylee McClure of Bossier City, former spouse, Donna “Renee’” McClure of Bossier City, Siblings Henry McClure of Norway, Dennis McClure and wife Bette Lou of Kingwood Tx, Roy McClure and wife June of Homer La, Carmelita Cleveland and husband David of Stonewall La, and Tanya McClure of Minden La, along with many other family members and friends. A small private service for the family will be held at later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in memory of Robert A McClure to the Louisiana Wildlife Federation (lawildlifefed.org) to help carry on his passion for the outdoors in his home state of Louisiana.