Welcome All Earth Harmony and Prosperity Loving World Citizens...
Helen L. McClure Living Legacy:
"Assisting God's Plan for Earth Harmony and Prosperity"
Helen Brown Stroup was born in Yakima Washington USA July 12, 1921. Helen grew up in Leavenworth Washington, a small logging town in the beautiful Cascade mountains, and now a Bavarian village visited by millions annually. Helen was loving, humble, sweet and sincere with a great smile, although somewhat shy. Helen was school smart and practiced common sense throughout her life.
Professionally Helen was a Registered Nurse in private and government hospitals for 30 years, and participated in small plane missions into remote Indian Reservations to help immunize the local population in northern California..
Helen managed to win the title of "Apple Blossom Princess of Leavenworh Washington USA," and the town's favorite lady during the Wenatchee WA Apple Festival...a local honor. When kidded by her son JKelly of being a "Apple Blossom Princess", she downplayed it and quipped "that was many years ago Kell" Then she added, "ya know I did win by the largest margin up to that time!"
That's our Helen. Loving, positive, fun, modest, honest, open minded, solid values, caring, giving, and good friend to many. Several good time friends decided on the nickname "Miss Helen" or "Mitt" for short. Mitt was beautiful inside and out in her earthly life. She remains beautiful in her eternal life...
Helen@retirement party. Atherton, CA. 1980.
Image:
Helen spent much of her growing up years on the Brown relatives' large ranches in the Yakima Valley of Washington state. The Brown families have heart and intelligence. Helen's mother, Leitha Brown Stroup Shelton, was the 13th child of the Brown family and would not give up Helen after Helen?s biological father died at 36 with Helen just a few years old. Helen's Aunt Lidia kept care of Helen for a year back in Virginia state. When Aunt Lidia suggested adopting Helen out, Leitha Brown bellowed "Nothing doing! We don't give up our kids. We keep our kids!" In those days families stuck together.
Helen went on to become an Army registered nurse after graduating from Saint Anthony's Hospital School of Nursing in Wenatchchee, Washington. She trained in Fort Lewis, Washington and later went to Los Angeles and stayed with her Aunt Agnes in Beverly Hills. "Auntie" nicknamed her niece, Helen, "Good Time Charlie." Auntie was somewhat formal, dawning her best hat and clothes for everyday events. Aunt Agnes loved her niece as a daughter as she had no children. Aunt Agnes was somewhat of a stock market whiz, visiting her stock broker on a daily basis. Later, Auntie willed the bulk of her estate to Helen. Helen and all the McClure siblings are ever grateful for the generosity and love that Aunt Agnes expressed.
Miss Helen always lived modestly and with class. Her kids, Julie, JKelly, and Doug always looked nice, wore good fashionable clothes, and popular at school. Like their mother, the McClure's kids are well liked because they are fun! Miss Helen believed in quality people and products.
Helen married John R. McClure when stationed in San Francisco as an Army World War II registered nurse. They were married for 13 years and J.R. helped parent Julie, JKelly and Doug in their earlier years in Boise, Idaho. Later, Helen took almost all the parent responsibilities including financial ones. Helen worked vacation time and multi shifts at various hospitals to make ends meet. Although she had a modest retirement income, Miss Helen could buy most anything she wanted and travel due to her belief in hard work, living in ones means, savings, and a generous inheritance. Helen retired in 1980 and enjoyed her retirement years with family and friends at Santa Rosa and Lincoln Hills, California.
Helen beat breast and colon cancer due to early detection, good medical doctors, faith, and positive thinking. Helen lost sight in both eyes from sudden eye strokes shortly before her long life of 82. She never lost her courage and spirit. Helen passed into Eternal Life with family at her bedside on September 12, 2003 in Room 2020 of Kaiser Hospital in Roseville, California. You could just feel her spirit leaving her body through her wide open mouth. And we "got" from our Mom could again see 20/20. "Coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous." according to Albert Einstein. There are Heavenly signs from knowing and experiencing God's love for all willing people.
A secondary incredible "co-incidence" occurred after JKelly McClure sponsored two park benches in Tahoe City CA. One bench dedicated to the Helen L. McClure Living Legacy, and the other bench dedicated to 3 college fraternity brothers Wayne Biancalana of Oakland CA and Reno NV, Russ Gleason of Santa Rosa CA, and Steve Dorfman of Petaluma CA, who all died prematurely from cancer. After nearly 2 years of delay for completion of Commons Park and Fannie Bridge Park on the shores of Tahoe City, the 2 park benchs sponsored by JKelly were finally completed just before snow fall in 2006. So the families were to be notified after the snow melt in the Spring. Through God's Plan two of the mothers found out early! So check this!
Mrs. Dorfman and Mrs Gleason who had not known each other previously just happened to take a Sonoma County bus, something both rarely do, and on same day on the same bus. And it just happened they sat in the 2 seats together and exchanged pleasantries with one of the mother's mentioning California State University-Chico State as where her son attended college. Much to the other mother's surprise, Mrs. Gleason said "that's where my son attended college'. Mrs. Dorfman then disclosed her son Steve died of throat cancer, and much to Mrs. Gleason's surprise exclaimed "so did my son Russ." And Mrs. Dorfman went on to say that a fraternity brother Kelly McClure had dedicated a park bench to her son's memory along with a dedication to a couple of other fraternity brothers. Mrs. Dorfman now asks Mrs. Gleason her name, and Mrs. Dorfman exclaims I think your son's name is on that bench! Mrs. Gleason contacts JKelly to verify after returning home and learns the details of the bench. Gleason family went up to Lake Tahoe in Spring and viewed the park and bench and expressed their gratitude, and Mrs Dorfman called to express the Dorfman family appreciation. A very unlikely probaility math geeks might conclude, the mothers would meet this way! It was said "there are no co-incidents, "it is all meant to be" per a heavenly message Pam Gleason got from her deceased brother Russ.
Miss Helen desired world harmony and prosperity for all people. She also believed in less talk, and a little more action. As part of Miss Helen's living memorial, Army paratrooper R. Springer was given a $1,000 scholarship for college to be used after his service ends. Also a new refrigerator, washer, and dryer was gifted to the hard working Isidro family. Their family was in need of those basic appliances for their immigrant family with kids. $20 was given to a homeless panhandler in Denver. The only stipulation was the above persons, when in a permissible financial position, do the same or similar for someone else. PAY IT FORWARD.
Rich or poor can possess true class. True class can be attained through a transformation of the heart and personal integrity, it cannot be bought. If enough persons did just one random act of forgiveness, kindness, and compassion to create a critical mass, truly the world can change from too much greed and oppression to more loving, sharing, and cooperation. That transformation ripple will surely help lead to earth harmony and prosperity. Truly a new beginning. One of Mitt's favorite quips was "Just do it NOW." PAY IT FORWARD. Thank You and God Bless You!
LOVE, COURAGE, SPIRIT reads the Helen L. McClure Family 2003 Living Memorial bronze plaque on a park bench located at Fanny Bridge at the mouth of the Truckee River and Lake Tahoe at Tahoe City California USA. No finer words to describe Helen McClure. We love you Helen Brown Stroup McClure. We always have and we always will. You remain an inspiration to many. Until we meet again, GOD BLESS Helen L. McClure aka "Miss Helen."
Click on Image below to enlarge.
Image:
Guest Book Comments
Dear J. Kelly McClure,
Thank you for your kind words and for sending me the article about my visit to Lake Tahoe. It was a terrific event, and I appreciate your thoughtfulness more than you know.
I was also pleased to learn of the park bench you dedicated and how you are encouraging others to make a difference. That's wonderful!
Tom "Top Cat" Carter California State University, Chico State Hall of Fame
"There have been plenty of of two-sport athletes of Chico State, but very few have had the versatilty to play soccer and basketball at high level that Tom Carter did for the Cats in the late 1960's and early 1970's... Over the years Tom has earned a reputation for producing winning teams known for their high levels of sportmanship and fair play... Tom began his teaching career in Australia, earned a masters degree, and taught math at Paradise High School in Chico... Tom has been actively involved in his community for over 35 years."
Kelly's Note: I am proud to have Tom Carter as a friend and mentor. First teaching me how to dunk a basketball as a 5th grader at Adams Elementary in Boise Idaho in exchange feeding him the ball so he could practice his shots. See what good teamwork produces! Tom also taught me how to drink beer from a pitcher at Chico California State University, and taught me to "sit where I drink", meaning if you spill your beer you sit and wipe it up. Tom Carter is a great mentor and role model to many. Tom Carter is the real deal!
Hi Kelly,
Thank you for that wonderful email, I especially enjoyed the link for your mother and your family. I am also happy to see someone caring about and investing in education.
S. Bruton South Lake Tahoe, California USA
Dear Kelly,
I love dreams-come-true-stories. Miss Helen sounds like the American Woman. You're lucky to have been born to her. "Some think that is not accident of birth but of choice."
S.V. Zurz Boise, Idaho USA
Kelly, This is fantastic...what a tribute to a wonderful lady (your Mom). I knew she passed on from a brief conversation I had with you several years ago. It was great surfing through the photos. It certainly brought back some memories for me.
Well I just wanted to drop you a line...to say hello and commend you on a wonderful job you did with the website honoring your mother...she would be (is) very proud.
Carol Tufford Seattle Washington San Diego California USA
