First Posted: 2/27/2015
LIMA — At Trinity United Methodist Church’s Center for Creative Childcare, the room is simply known as Miss Mary’s class.
For 30 years, the hundreds of children who have walked through those doors have made Mary McClure laugh and cry, but most of all, she’ll tell you they’ve kept her young.
So it’s no wonder Friday was a bittersweet day for her as she stepped out of the classroom and into retirement.
“I was explaining to the children that I was going to be leaving and telling them it’s time for Miss Mary to leave and that I will not be working here anymore. There were some that were trying not to cry,” she said. “One little boy, who was very close to me and kind of like my shadow, said, ‘Miss Mary! Miss Mary! Miss Mary! I thought that retiring was for old people,’ which made me feel very good.”
McClure was a stay-at-home mom when her sister-in-law convinced her to start out at Trinity in 1984. She began with the 3-year-olds and then moved up to the 4- and 5-year-old children. She knew quickly it was the right decision.
“The staff and the people here have been very kind to me. They are just like family to me. It’s been a great place to work, and if I need something I can always talk to the director or anyone here is always ready to help. And after 30 years of working here at the day care, it seems like everywhere I go, people are always coming up to me saying ‘Miss Mary! Miss Mary!’”
McClure has worked with more than 600 children in her career. She’s kept in touch with many of the children over the years. It’s much easier now with Facebook.
One of her fondest memories has been working in the classroom and hearing a child announce, “Miss Mary, I did it myself!”
“That is something I always strive for,” McClure said. “I don’t like to do things for my children. I like them to learn and do things for themselves, and then by the end of the year, they are doing it for themselves.”
McClure was also very dedicated to bringing faith to her children at work.
“Every single day we read the Bible, and I put God first. That always keeps everything going for me. We learn to pray together, and I tell the children that Jesus loves them and together we learn that God loves the world — and they will learn from the very beginning that this is the most important thing, and that they will never forget it.”
McClure’s retirement plans include a move to Florida, which she will enjoy because she’s lived in Lima her entire life. She plans to find a local library and do some storytelling and maybe some puppetry … anything where she can help children.
“The children always love you and always forgive you no matter what. And the great thing is they have short memories,” she said with a laugh.
