Friday, February 15, 2013

Update for Audrey McClure

Audrey M. McClure, beloved wife of 66 years to James H. McClure, Northbrook, IL, with whom she parented five children, 14 grandchildren and one great-grand child, passed away Sunday, March 25, 2007, of a sudden illness. She passed away peacefully in the arms of her husband, James, and family in Naples, FL. A lifelong Chicagoan, she suddenly became ill and passed away in Naples amidst the sunshine and the white sand beaches along the Gulf of Mexico that she loved so much. She and her husband were on their yearly vacation from her full-time job which she held until her death. Audrey McClure was Vice President of Sales for Mission Hills Real Estate at Mission Hills Country Club Village, Northbrook, IL, a division of the Corley Companies, a real estate development firm. Mrs. McClure was an amazing 86 years old. Audrey McClure was born Audrey M. Corley to parents, Thomas F. Corley Sr. and Marie, nee Travelina, Corley on Nov. 23, 1920. Audrey Corley made headlines as a teenager at Chicago's Senn High School by winning the National Baton Twirling Championship and later recruited by Evanston's Northwestern University to be their University's Big 10 Football Team Drum Majorette. She was offered a Full Athletic Scholarship. Already the National Baton Twirling Champion, she played that role for Northwestern's Wildcats Marching Band for five years, even though the education hungry Audrey had to turn down the Full Ride Scholarship Northwestern offered her to help her parents and family financially. However, she led the team onto the field for every game and at Northwestern's Marching Band shows at halftime for five straight seasons. During those years she became a featured commercial model in Chicago, as well as nationally. She worked for the Model Bureau of Chicago, where she earned accolades as the national spokesperson model for many companies. Audrey became the coveted Camay Soap Bride model showcased in Life Magazine and many others, in addition to other coveted advertising spots throughout the United States. She was also in show business and performed at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. She also performed with famous Jimmy Dorsey Big Band as well as with the beloved comedian and entertainer, Jack Benny and Rosemary Clooney and Helen O'Connel on many shows and telecasts. Audrey McClure was offered movie contracts following her becoming a runner up in the Miss Chicago Contest. She was offered two movie contracts from two major Hollywood movie studios, by Universal Pictures and Paramount Studios. However she turned them down to marry the love of her life, handsome James H. McClure, an honors graduate from Washington & Lee University and fellow Chicagoan. Uncle Sam wanted him for World War II, so Audrey quit her modeling career and devoted herself to James as a housewife and becoming a mother. While overseas, protecting our country, James entered a photograph of his beautiful wife in the GI Magazine YANK where she won the contest for "The Prettiest Sweetheart Left Behind". Of all the soldiers serving in the South Pacific in World War II, Audrey McClure was chosen "the Prettiest Sweetheart Left Behind" and immediately became a WWII "PinUp Girl" for countless GI's fighting in the war. Ironically, being busy fighting the war, James first found out about the news when he saw another GI with her picture and learned she had won. Back on the homefront his beautiful wife was giving birth to their first son, Michael. But her favorite and full time role for the next 25 years was as an excellent stay at home mother filling her home with love, laughter, educational advantages and a family tradition of joy, compassion, love and kindness to others. She was a big believer in the arts and encouraged her children to appreciate and excel with any talents they had. Mrs. McClure was President of National Council of Catholic Women. She later became the President of the Regional Archdiocese of the National Council of Catholic Women. Audrey was also a devoted member of the Third Order of St. Francis. When her children were grown she began selling real estate at Mission Hills and became one of the most successful real estate brokers on Chicago's North Shore. She was responsible for over $400,000,000 in sales during her long real estate career through 2007. She was Vice President of Sales for Mission Hills Real Estate, Mission Hills County Club Village, Crystal Tree County Club Development and the Monaco Beach Club in Naples, FL. She was a model of excellence for all her children. She believed in hard work and taught her children there is always a way to achieve your dreams; to never take no for an answer; give it everything you've got and everything else will take care of itself! Audrey McClure will be greatly missed by her family and everyone else that had the pleasure of knowing her. Her unselfish caring and love of others, especially her wonderful laugh and great sense of humor will never be forgotten. She will always live on within her husband, children and grandchildren.

 

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