Carl McCleary

(From Clark Funeral Home)

Carl M. McCleary, 84, died of natural causes at his home in rural Neosho at 6:55 p.m. on Jan. 25, 2021.

Carl was born July 23, 1936, near Sweetwater, MO. When his parents moved to Kansas City as a teenager, Carl found that city life did not appeal to him and returned to the family farm alone. Bill Martin invited him to live with the Martin family in Sweetwater for the next few years, and Carl never forgot their act of kindness.

Carl was a 1955 graduate of Stella High School. Carl graduated from College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, MO, and worked as a butler and chauffeur in New Iberia, Louisiana before marrying Doris Hinegardner on Aug. 8, 1959. He did his Army basic training at Fort Leonard Wood and then served at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.

Carl and Doris taught in a two-teacher country school in Competition, MO, with Doris handling the elementary school and Carl teaching the middle school. They both considered being a part of the school and the community as one of their most fulfilling experiences. They often told a story about organizing a softball game for the children but how the game abruptly ended when the only softball went down the hole in the outhouse.

Carl taught eighth grade for one year in Wheaton and fourth and fifth grade reading and math at Triway Elementary School in Stella for several years. He received his master’s degree from Drury University in 1972.

He was a lifetime farmer of beef cattle on his farms in the Sweetwater and Boulder City area. After retiring from teaching, he worked at Sunbeam in Neosho for a few years.

He is survived by his son, Joel Allen (Kausik Das), Stoughton, Massachusetts; Laurel (Chad) Stebbins, Neosho; granddaughters Christine (Destry) Allgood, Joplin; Devri (Patrick) Chism, Chicago; Liesel McCleary (Brendan Sinclair), Ozark; Molly McCleary, Neosho; grandson Eric (Brock) McCleary, Neosho; and sisters Ina Lou Schmedake, Stafford, Virginia; and Bonita Lewis, Lee’s Summit; and a daughter-in-law, Mary Schroer, Lincoln, Nebraska.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Edgar and Goldie; three sisters (Joanna, Patricia, Marilyn); two brothers (Ed and Norman); his wife, Doris; and a son, Lloyd.

Carl was known for his generosity toward others. A family friend recently recalled that after her mother passed away, Carl brought her chocolate pudding pops and sat on the porch with her one evening. He simply told her: “I figured you could use one of these about now.” He was a model of kindness and generosity all of his life.

At Carl’s request, there will be no funeral or visitation service. He never wanted to be the center of attention in life or death.

Graveside services will be held at Hazel Green Cemetery in Boulder City at 10:00 am, Saturday, January 30, 2021, with Dr. Chad Stebbins officiating. The family requests that everyone wear a mask. Pallbearers will be Eric McCleary, Destry Allgood, Patrick Chism, Evan Weinstein, Jeff Hance, and Shane Bailey. Honorary pallbearers are Larry Lewis, Bobby Morris, and Tommy Martin. Contributions to honor Carl may be made to Hospice Compassus c/o Clark Funeral Home, PO Box 66; Neosho, MO 64850.