GRANBURY – James Austin McCleery, 82, passed away March 9, 2012 in Granbury, TX.
Memorial service was held at Holly Hills Memorial Chapel on March 17th in Granbury with Dr. Charles Somervill officiating. A burial will be in Elkader, Iowa at a later date.
James Austin McCleery was born August 6, 1929 to James & Muryl Shannon McCleery in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Shortly thereafter his family moved to Waterloo, Iowa where he received his education graduating from East High in 1947, going to college at Upper Iowa University and gtting his degree in Mortuary Science in St. Louis, Missouri.
Jim married Donna Halverson September 19, 1970 at Elkader, Iowa.
Jim worked in Waterloo and Independence, Iowa for several years before bringing his family to Knoxville, Iowa in 1972 where he owned and operated the Evans-McCleery Funeral Service until his retirement. Upon his retirement, Jim and his wife Donna spent their winters in Granbury, Texas where he passed away on March 9, 2012.
Jim enjoyed golf and being with friends and family. He was a member of the Rotary, Chamber of Commerce, the Ambassadors and the North/South Football Team. He traveled extensively with Donna taking cruises and visiting many countries while she owned the Travel Agency in Knoxville.
He was preceded in death by his parents, one sister, Eileen Yeutter and one grandson, Quin McCleery.
Survivors include his wife of 42 years, Donna; children, Pat McCleery and wife Vicki of Willow Springs, North Carolina, Mark Halverson and wife Carol of Arlington, Texas, Marcy Bonifas and husband Gene of Granbury, Texas; grandchildren, Austin McCleery and wife McKenna, Kim Rowland and husband Johm Juliane Armendariz and husband Adrian, Ryan Bonifas and wife Alicia, Katie Bonifas, Moly McCleery and two great-grandchildren, Ava McCleery and Christopher Rowland.
