Neal DeWayne McCleery

Born March 7, 1941 to Walter Edger McCleery and Eva Rosella Forebush in Murray, Utah. He always liked to say he was his mother’s surprise package and that he was born in a maternity home and now the place is a skilled nursing center.

He had 6 children: Janeal (Barney Johnson), Dayna McCleery, Kirk McCleery, Nathan (Wendy) McCleery, and Aaron (Erica) McCleery.

He started working at Sprouse Reitz when he was 16 and became a manager at 19. He married Darla Allen and was sent to Richfield to be a manager there. They moved to Miami then to South Carolina. They later divorced. When he came back to Utah, he worked to become a manager at Zennex sporting goods.

He met and married his current spouse Jacqueline Jeppesen, July 5,1979 in Salt Lake, after meeting her at a singles dance and a long-distance courtship in February and married in July. He attended Murray High School. He later became custodian for the school district for 33 years, retiring from Murray School District. He enjoyed fishing, camping, trucking, trains, and car shows. He had 3 special friends Merlin, Big John and Blaine, who was his special needs friend.

Jacqueline and Neal went on a mission to West Ridge Academy Boys Ranch and was there for a year. When it ended, they started foster care with Destiny and Victoria for a year then adopted them in 2009.

He was preceded in death by his mother Rosella; and his father Walter; and 2 baby’s, Sue Ellen and Allen Jean; his siblings Ruby (Verl) Barker, Ken and (Lois) McCleery; Delores (Roy) Litson, LaMonte (Barbara) McCleery.

Private family services will be held. Interment, Murray City Cemetery.

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