Illa Mcclurg

Illa McClurg, 83, of Amarillo, passed away on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. Funeral services will be 10:00 AM Tuesday, May 13, 2025 at Power Church, 1344 SE 10th Ave. Burial will be at Llano East Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5:00 – 7:00 PM on Monday, May 12, 2025 at Cox-Rowley Funeral Home, 4180 Canyon Drive.

Illa was born July 21, 1941 in Iowa City, Iowa to Leonard and Adeline Messerschmitt. She grew up mostly in Iowa, attending Pocahontas High School in Pocahontas, Iowa. She married her husband Ralph McClurg on April 19, 1958 in Sioux City, Iowa. Together, they enjoyed 45 years of marriage and raised six children, Cindy, Randy, Ricky, Lorie, Lisa and Raymond. The family moved to Amarillo in 1974.  Illa dedicated her life to caring for her family.

After the kids grew up, Illa went to work for Golden Corral where she spent the next 35 years as a server, working up into her 80’s. Ralph passed away in 2003, and Illa was a busy Grandma to 17 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren. She loved the time she was able to spend with her growing family.

In her spare time, Illa enjoyed crafting and feeding the birds and the squirrels. She was a very caring person and welcomed everyone into her home. She will be dearly missed by her family, friends and community.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Ralph McClurg; a brother, Dennis Messerschmitt; two grandsons, Travis James and Randy Leonard; a granddaughter, Brianne; and a great-grandson, Skylar.

Survivors include three daughters, Cindy McPherson of Tyler, TX; Lorie Najar (Victor McRee) of Amarillo, and Lisa Martin (Dennis) of Frederick, CO; three sons, Randy McClurg of Amarillo, Ricky McClurg (Ana) of Denver City, TX, and Raymond McClurg (Vanessa) of Amarillo; a sister, Joyce Roling of Nampa, ID; 17 grandchildren, Zackery McClurg, Cassandra McClurg, Crystal Gray (Taylor), Chelsea McPherson, Dylan Martin (Amanda), Travis Martin (Amber), Latecia Jones, Kylen Seeders, Christopher Seeders, Nick Najar, Nathaniel Najar (Katiuska), Melody Najar, Anthony Najar, Malenda McClurg, Maranda Courter (Trent), Jerry Stewart (Krystal), Randy McClurg, Jr. (Erica); 33 great-granchildren, Alyiah, Alynn, Kent, Kal, Nevaeh B., Kaedyn, AJ, Bellah, Lily, Meljani, Leilani, Naylina, Kohdan, Kanhon, JoJo, Bonnie, Dakota, Silver, TJ, Penny, David L., Mary, Isac, Destiny, Will, Nevaeh H., Chuckie, Hunter, JJ, Cayden, Gracie, Huntlee, and Grayson; and four great-great-grandchildren, Iliana, Orion, Skylyn and Syncere.