Clara J. Marshall-McClure

Clara Marshall-McClure optimized the words: teacher, entertainer, entrepreneur, and friend.  She was born July 30, 1940 to Robert Marshall and Catherine (Bryant) Marshall in Lebanon, Indiana.  At the age of 4, her mother found a piano teacher and Clara started taking lessons.  It didn’t take long to discover she was amazingly gifted and at the age of 7, she started playing at churches.  By the time she was 10, Clara was playing the piano on local radio broadcasts.  Clara knew education was important. She received a Secretarial Certificate from Indiana Business College then went on to get a BS in Speech, Theatre and Communication from Indiana University in 1979.  That wasn't enough, she went back to school and earned her MA in Communication Arts from Purdue University in 1984. Her talent outgrew her little town and she moved to New York City to study acting at the Stanislav Acting School.  Afterwards, she returned to Indianapolis were she was the co-owner of Awakening Bookstore and Branches, Whole Life Living magazine from 1987-1995.  She directed musicals and dramas at Indy Theatres including; Theatre in the Woods and Epilogue and became artist director at CTS.  Clara became a director of live stage performances and occasionally appeared in commercials all while working as Business Manager at the music department at IUPUI.  It was an audition where she met the love of her life, C. Robert (Bob) McClure. A short time later they were married and lived in Camby, Indiana.  While Clara never had any children of her own, she was the surrogate mother to many of her students and friends whom she loved dearly.  She was preceded in death by her parents and husband.   Clara leaves behind many friends who will miss her quirky sense of humor and her smile.  She leaves a legacy of people who will carry on her love of music and theater in her memory.  Funeral services will be at 11:00 am on Monday, April 18, 2022 in the Hampton-Gentry Funeral Home, Plainfield, where friends may call on Monday from 10:00 am until service time at 11:00 am.  Burial will follow in Shannondale Cemetery.   In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Department of Music and Arts Technology by visiting the online giving portal https://www.myiu.org/give-now  Once on the site search for Music and Arts Technology Program.   www.hamptongentry.com