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Marcella Claire (Morford) McCleary (2014)

MCCLEARY, MORFORD, WIGHT, KOCH, EINUIS

Posted By: Mary Welty Hart (email)
Date: 3/4/2014 at 07:57:11

Johnson Funeral Home, Earlham, Iowa
March 03, 2014

MARCELLA CLAIRE (MORFORD) McCLEARY

Marcella Claire (Morford) McCleary, 84, of Dexter passed away at home on Friday, February 28, 2014 from complications of a stroke. She was surrounded by her family.

Marcella was born June 7, 1929, in Des Moines, IA to Hazen and Dorothy (Wight) Morford. She grew up in rural Earlham where she and her brother, Marvin, enjoyed a happy and love-filled childhood. She attended country school at Penn #6 until 8th grade when she began attending Earlham Community School. After graduating from high school in 1946, Marcella found work in other farm homes and assisted a local lawyer with tax preparation.

On February 27, 1949, Marcella married LaVere McCleary, a long time family friend and farmer in the Earlham area. Together they created a close-knit and stable home for children Phil, Jean, and Judy, which fulfilled her greatest ambition. She and LaVere found great joy in attending and supporting their children's activities. They have spent 60 years living on the same farm in rural Dexter.

Marcella was pianist and organist for Penn Center United Methodist Church for 60 years. Music was an important part of her life, and she, with LaVere, passed this love along to their children. She also taught Sunday school and was active in UMW. Her neighborly character formed many close bonds with those who lived nearby and her hospitality blessed others. Dubbed "Grandma Marshmallow" by her great grandchildren, she took much joy in spending time with all of her family. Marcella was an animal lover and gave a home to numerous pets over the years.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Hazen and Dorothy (Wight) Morford, and a nephew, Greg Morford. Marcella is survived by her husband, LaVere; three children, Phil McCleary (Mary Lou) of Barron, WI, Jean Koch (Dave) of Earlham, IA, and Judy Einuis (Larry) of Springfield, VA; brother, Marvin Morford of West Des Moines; four grandsons; three granddaughters; four great grandchildren; two nieces and a nephew.

A visitation for Marcella will be held Wednesday, March 5, 2014 from 1:00-7:00 pm (family present from 5:00-7:00 pm) at the Johnson Funeral home in Earlham, with memorial service to be held at 11:00 am on Thursday, March 6, 2014 at Penn Center United Methodist Church in rural Earlham. In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to Middle River Hospice (300 Hutchings, Winterset, IA, 50273) or Penn Center United Methodist Church (P.O. Box 338, Earlham, IA, 50072)


 

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