In Loving Memory of Karen McClure

Paying tribute to my beautiful mother Karen McClure by Joseph Sheaffer:

To those who don’t already know, my mother Karen McClure was tragically killed in a hit and run accident last Saturday on the evening of February 6th. This was a hit and run and there is currently no leads on who may have done this. I am not one to usually ask for help, as I tend to be the one helping those around me.. but I want to have a service or memorial for my mother,  I need to clean out her home and get everything divided, disposed of, and move what’s being saved. As well as paying for my mothers cremation and unfortunately,  I need help with this. I would also like to use whatever remains from this, to add to a reward to help find the person who did this and hopefully bring closure to the family.

My mom was an amazing mother. I have countless memories of her and will never forget how selfless she would be for me, my brother’s, and those she loved. This has got to be the hardest thing my brother’s and I have had to go through. In the last couple years I have been helping care for my mother daily. Taking her to doctors appointments, running errands, cooking family meals for the holidays at her house so she could do the get togethers she so very much loved, and making sure that she was stable financially, due to her not being able to survive on her social security alone. My mother loved her children, grandkids, and the rest of the family wholeheartedly. Due to her disability, stubbornness, and embarrassment, she lost contact with a lot of the family in recent years and I know she wanted to change that. She just couldn’t muster the courage to take that step.

Some of my favorite childhood memories I had were growing up with my mom and my brother. I remember always doing something fun, whether it be going to the local swimming pool, playing soccer on my school’s team or sitting at home playing crazy 8s, war, solitaire, Yahtzee or some other kind of game. We were always in cub scouts/boy scouts, sports, or some kind of activity to keep us having fun and learning. My mom wanted the best for us and did everything she could to show us that. And now that I’m older and look back, what a tough woman she must have been to keep us crazy boys in line all by herself. My mom never missed anything When it came to her kids. She was at graduations, birthdays, holidays, sporting events, and whatever else. She was there. If I had a problem, I always could call my mom. This last week has been hard, and amazing all at the same time. I’ve seen family I haven’t in 10+ years, remembered countless memories of my mom, and realized how many great friends and family I really have around me.

I am not sure when a memorial will be, but I want to do it how she would have done it. Potluck style where everyone brings their favorite dish, we meet up at home or the park, and bring all the kids and family together to have a great time, reminisce, and just relax in each other’s company. That’s what she would have wanted.

I know we are all struggling, and I would never ask If it were other circumstances, but anything you could do to help would be appreciated more than you know. It can be words, cards, past memories, or of course, donations.

Regardless, I thank and appreciate each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart.

See link below:

https://www.oregonlive.com/crime/2021/02/pedestrian-killed-in-east-portland-hit-and-run-crash.html