Charles Wesley McClure, known as ‘Slim’ or C.W. by friends, colleagues, and beleaguered opponents returned to Glory on September 2, 2024 at the age of 93. Charles called Carlsbad, New Mexico his home for most of his life. He passed away in Mesa, AZ and will be buried next to his beloved wife Patsy McClure (Hunt), and his youngest daughter Robin Van Natta (McClure) in Carlsbad Cemetery.
Slim was a lifelong hellraiser, growing up on a farm in Verden, Oklahoma. He was born to Virgie May Niday McClure and John Wesley McClure on June 26, 1931, though he spent a majority of his youth with his grandparents. He had a younger sister Marita McClure (Paul). Charles worked on his grandparents farm as a young man, and loved to eat hamburgers at every opportunity. Slim moved around a lot after the 6th grade, having lived in Verden, OK, Oklahoma City, OK, Guyman, OK, Borger, TX, Mogollar, NM, Tucumcari, NM, Glenwood, NM and eventually Carlsbad, NM. He graduated high school in Carlsbad in 1949.
A child of the Great Depression, Charles grew up poor and learned to make the most out of the least, a trait that he would carry with him all of his life to the chagrin of his friends and family (duct tape was a popular item around the house). After he graduated high school, his mother and sister returned to Altus, OK and he and his father stayed in Carlsbad. He began working at the Carlsbad Caverns underground lunchroom and met the love of his life, Patsy, and they were married on May 22, 1950 at First Christian Church. At the time of their marriage, Charles had taken a job at the state highway department, and asked for the week off to get married, his boss told him he “could take the week off but, don’t bother coming back”. Charles promptly took him up on the offer and began working at U.S. Potash after the wedding and honeymoon. At the
outbreak of the Korean War, Slim had a friend at the draft office that let him and his friends know their numbers were up, so he enlisted in the Navy and served in Corpus Christi, TX working with sea-planes. While on the naval base their first daughter Vivan Elaine McClure was born on July 19, 1953. Charles was honorably discharged in 1955 and the family returned to Carlsbad, New Mexico.
Charles and his father built his house on Bindel Street in 1956. The house itself was a lifelong project, and an exercise in not necessarily getting things right the first time, but eventually. Patsy and Charles’ only son Wesley Blaine McClure was born on September 26, 1956 in Carlsbad, and their second daughter, Robin, was born October 25, 1966. The house on Bindel St. was host to a large and ever expanding extended family, and was always full of friends, family, and other loved ones. After returning to Carlsbad from Texas, Charles went back to work at the potash mines. Charles was a member of the Steel Workers Union, and was even its president for several years. He was a steadfast believer in organized labor and kept blue-collar interest close to his heart for the entirety of his life.
Slim often claimed he was never a very good employee and cited a time the entire potash processing facility was disrupted and brought to an abrupt halt on his watch (he claimed he fell asleep, but we doubt it). He also would use the potash logging paper to draw obtuse and witty cartoons about management and his coworkers. His family are proud inheritors of over 50 unique drawings of the antics that he, and other employees got up to while at work and his less than glowing perspective of management.
He was a strict father and drove his children to do their best in school and sports, Vivan was an accomplished academic and artist, Wesley played basketball for the Carlsbad Cavemen, and Robin was a state championship winning softball pitcher for the Cavegirls. A story was frequently told, that Charles would make a mark on the side of the house and a makeshift pitchers mound in the yard, he required Robin to hit the spot on the house a multitude of times before going to school and after school, Wesley was frequently running drills with her at the behest of their father. Eventually, Charles retired from the mines in 1991 and occupied his time with keeping a large garden, a variety of projects around the house, and being active in local politics. He never shrank from criticizing elected officials of the County, City, or State governments and arguably
has submitted (and were subsequently published) the most scathing, and hilarious, editorials to the Carlsbad Current Argus to this day.
Charles and Patsy took a great interest in their grandchildren and loved celebrating holidays with everyone at the house. Though sometimes known for his temper, Charles was always well-meaning and loved his family dearly, he always worked to instill good judgment and values in his kids and grandchildren, while being the embodiment of the phrase: ‘Do as I say, not as I do’. With his wife, Patsy, Charles created a home that was full of life, love, and safety.
After Patsy passed away in 2013, Charles kept up with most of his hobbies and activities until his health no longer allowed him to live independently. Family helped move him to Mesa, AZ where he would have better access to healthcare, he remained there until the end of his life.
Charles McClure was many things to many people, he was passionate, lively, incredibly funny, sometimes hard to get along with, but always a person that could be relied on. The family he and Patsy created loved and cherished him through the good times and the bad in ways that are impossible to measure. While the family grieves, we know he has been reunited with his wife whom he loved more than anyone or anything else on earth, and his daughter Robin and is finally at peace.
Charles is survived by his children Wesley McClure and spouse Lisa McClure and Vivian Hunt and spouse Steve Hunt, grandchildren Casey McClure, Hallie Hardy (McClure), Brook Dunn Bradford, Christian Charon, Callie Charon, Dustin Hunt, Stephani Johnson, Jared Van Natta, and many great-grandchildren and extended family.
We love you and we miss you dad, we hope and pray the good Lord is ready for who he called home, he’s in for a wild ride.
A graveside service will take place on September 9th at 10:00 AM in Carlsbad Cemetery with refreshments and a place to meet with family at First Baptist Church in Carlsbad after the graveside service.
Arrangements by Bunker’s Garden Chapel, www.bunkerfuneral.com. Should this obituary appear anywhere but bunkerfuneral.com, please check our website for accurate details and service information.
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