The Tiny Kingdom lost one of its residents this week. John Calure, 72, Landrum, S.C. passed away quietly in his sleep on March 9, 2016 at his home after a year long battle with cancer. Born in Washington, D.C., he was the son of the late Margaret and Frank Calure. He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Cathy Calure, of the home; his brother and sister-in-law, Bernie and Barbara Calure, of Silver Spring, Md.; a sister, Ann Calure of Bethesda, Md.; and two nephews, Christian Calure of Brookline, Mass. and Jonathan and Rosanne Calure of Clarksville, Md.

John’s career started as an on-air radio personality in Bradford, Pa. working his way up the dial to Lakewood, N.J., then Washington, D.C. where he formed a production company called The Idea Machine to produce commercials for TV, radio and print.

From 1974 to 1986 he worked in the sales and marketing department for Federal Express in Washington, D.C. moving to the corporate headquarters in Memphis, Tenn. At the time Federal Express was a young, growing company and he developed numerous new departments such as Convention Services and Facility Tours.

In 1986, John and Cathy moved to Tryon as the owner-operators of WTYN radio station. In 1990, he was the editor of the Polk County News Journal, and in 1993 he was the managing editor of the Western Star newspaper in Bessemer, Ala., both newspapers were owned by the same company. John’s career took him back into logistics and to Landrum working with Swift Transportation in Greer where he retired in 2005.

He was an avid golfer and had opportunities to play such courses as Torrey Pines and Pebble Beach in Calif., Pinehurst in North Carolina and the Slammer & Squire and the King & Bear at the World Golf Village in Florida.

He had a lifelong enjoyment of little theater productions acting in plays such as Smoke and Mirrors, Hobson’s Choice, The Fantastics, Charley’s Aunt, Wait Until Dark, to name just a few. He directed plays at Tryon Little Theater, including Lettice and Lovage, The Sunshine Boys, and First Monday in October.

He was past president of Tryon Little Theater, a volunteer for Steps to Hope, the last surviving lodge member of the Foggy Knights of the Mystic Cliffs, current president of St. Luke’s Hospital Auxiliary, and served on the Board of Trustees of St. Luke’s Hospital.

A celebration of life service will be held at a later date when family can convene.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the St. Luke’s Hospital Foundation, 89 W. Mills Street, Suite B, Columbus, NC 28722.

An online guest register is available at www.mcfarlandfuneralchapel.com

McFarland Funeral Chapel
Tryon, N.C.