Laura Ann Mcclay

Laura Ann (Richter) McClay, 66, a retired U.S. Navy Captain and nurse practitioner, died of cancer October 31, 2018 at her home in Severna Park, MD. Laura was born in Salzburg, Austria to Dorothy and Ferdinand Richter. Growing up as a child in a military family, Laura, her sister and her two brothers lived in Colorado, Kentucky, Texas, California and finally St. Louis. She attended St. Thomas Aquinas High School in St. Louis and Avila College in Kansas City, where she received a bachelor’s degree in nursing. She received her master’s degree in Trauma Critical Care from University of Maryland, Baltimore in 1988. There, she also directed and taught courses. She received a post-graduate degree in Primary Care, Family Nurse Practitioner, from Bowie State University in 2003. Laura joined the U.S. Naval Reserves in 1974 as a clinical nurse. She was on active duty for Charleston Naval Hospital’s ICU from 1974 to 1978. Her activated reserve duty included serving at the Bethesda Naval Hospital during Desert Shield/Storm and Iraqi Freedom, as well as two deployments on the USNS Comfort, where she provided critical care education and participated in international medical exercises. Laura began her civilian career as a registered nurse at Anne Arundel Medical Center’s Emergency Room and ICU, where she worked for 32 years. She then served as a Family Nurse Practitioner for walk-in clinics Righttime Care in Davidsonville, MD, and Express Care Urgent Care Centers in Bel Air, MD from 2004 to 2017. She was an active parishioner of St. John the Evangelist in Severna Park, where she served in various ministries. She also attended weekly Miles Christi Faith Formation meetings. Laura prioritized her family time. She planned numerous family vacations around the country. She was an avid painter, having painted her family’s annual Christmas cards and numerous paintings of her family and local scenery. Throughout her life she enjoyed cross stitching, sewing, and gardening. She cherished her time with her numerous close friends. She is survived by her husband, Timothy S. McClay; daughter, Rebecca L. McClay; two sons, Ryan M. McClay and Daniel P. McClay and his wife, Katie; two grandchildren, Hunter and Claire; and her siblings Sharon, Larry and Bob, numerous nieces, nephews and in-laws. A viewing will be held from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., and from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Nov. 7 at Barranco & Sons Funeral Home in Severna Park. The second viewing will include a prayer service. A funeral mass will be held at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Severna Park at 10 a.m. Nov. 8. Services will also be held in Ottawa, KS. They include a rosary at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 12 at Dengel & Son Mortuary followed by a 7 p.m. viewing. A funeral mass will be held at 10 a.m. Nov. 13 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Ottawa followed by interment at Mt. Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Miles Christi, 25300 Johns Road, South Lyon, MI 48178-8933 (www.mileschristi.org/donations),or Hospice of the Chesapeake (www.hospicechesapeake.org/giving).