NORTHPORT — Rose Emma Samson McClure, 93, passed away on June 13, 2020 shortly after an injury sustained at her home.    

A native of Massachusetts, she and family moved permanently to Maine in 1970 after operating the Birchwood Motel in Camden for five years.  

In later years, she opened a real estate business and was employed by the Town of Rockport as the Code Enforcement Officer.

Rose always had an interest in art, taking courses in watercolors and etching, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Goddard College in Vermont in 1976.  

As her art interest evolved, she began to concentrate on abstract painting and exhibited her work at local art shows in Belfast, Brunswick, and Portland until 2008. Her work “ Ballet” was awarded 1st Place in the Graphic Design category at the 2009 Brunswick Outdoor Art Festival.

After retiring from real estate, she vigorously pursued painting as an abstract artist, and opened the 981 Gallery in Northport in 2007 to display and sell her works. In 2012, she was the featured artist for the Spring Salon exhibit at the prestigious June Fitzpatrick Gallery in Portland, and a continuing exhibitor thereafter until 2015.  

A mother of seven children, she leaves Allan W. McClure, Jr., of Winslow, Maine, Patricia M. Hannigan of Brunswick, Maine, Gary R. McClure of Palermo, Maine, David T. McClure of Bridgton, Maine, Paul McClure of Waldoboro, Maine, Ruth Gelsinger of San Antonio, Texas, and Eric McClure of San Antonio, Texas. 

Her husband, Allan W. McClure, passed in 1996.

A funeral mass will be held at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Belfast on August 27, at 1 p.m. Friends and family are invited. A family-only burial service will follow at the Sea View Cemetery in Rockport.

Arrangements are under the care of Riposta Funeral Home.

Memories and condolences may be shared with the family online at www.ripostafh.com