Karen Mcclure

Madelyn Karen McClure, age 75 of Cottontown, Tennessee, passed away peacefully on August 2, 2022 at White House Health Care with her family by her side.

She was born Madelyn Karen Keisling on August 8, 1946, to the late Albert Harry “A.H” and Beulah Keisling in Kingsport, Tennessee. Karen worked in the medical field for 35 years at Nashville Memorial Hospital and Skyline Medical Center. She began her career as a lab technician and later progressed to become Head of the Department, running the lab for many years.

Karen was known for being loving and strong. She endured a lung transplant on December 31, 2013 and defied the odds to enjoy almost another decade with her family. The Smoky Mountains were her happy place and her family spent many wonderful days there. From breakfast at the Pancake Pantry to driving through Cades Cove or the park, it was special. The kids and eventually grandkids loved going to play putt-putt golf, racing go carts, and going to candy shops with their Mom or Grandmother.

Christmas time was her favorite holiday, and she poured her heart into it. From decorating throughout the house with her Snow Village, trimming multiple trees in the house, or finding the perfect gifts (lots and lots of them) for each family member, she loved every moment. The home was decorated with holly and berry clippings from her shrubs.

Over the years, Karen enjoyed gardening at home, camping with her family, and finding treasures at antique shops. Fall Creek Falls was a favorite camping spot, and her home is decorated with findings from her antique hunts. She loved going on wrecker calls with Terry and Neil which allowed her to spend even more time with her family. Her family loved singing hymns on the way home from church.

In addition to her parents, Karen is preceded in death by her brothers, Albert Harry “AL” Keisling, Jr. and Edward Keisling.

She is survived by her beloved husband and best friend of 53 years, Terry Lee McClure and her children, Amy Elizabeth (Anderson) Fincher and Terry Neil (Wendy) McClure. She is also survived by 5 grandchildren: Clint Fincher, Sam Fincher, Jake McClure, Emma McClure and Madelyn Fincher; and her sister, Cindy Shipley.

A Life Celebration will be held on Monday, August 8, 2022 at 11:00am in the Chapel of Cole & Garrett Funeral Home in White House with Reverend Joe Bowers officiating. Burial will follow at White House Memorial Gardens with family and friends serving as pallbearers. The family will receive friends on Sunday, August 7th from 1-4pm. There will be no visitation prior to the service at the funeral home.

The family request in lieu of flowers donations be given in memory of Karen to two really important programs that helped her with her transplant:

Vanderbilt Pulmonology Transplant Team https://give.vanderbilthealth.org/give/197783/?utm_source=VHGiving&utm_medium=website&utm_content=waystogive#!/donation/checkout?c_src=1680A&c_src2=websiteways

Tennessee Donor Services https://tennesseedonor.org/financial-contribution/

These arrangements were entrusted to Cole & Garrett Funeral Home -White House: 212 Hwy 76 White House, TN 37188: 615-672-3936.