Norman Earl McCleary, 80, Adrian, MO, died Friday, December 18, 2009 at his home. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, December 22, 2009 at the Atkinson Chapel in Adrian. Visitation Monday, December 21 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the chapel. Burial will be in Hazel Green Cemetery in Boulder City, MO. Memorial contributions may be made to Adrian Community Library.

Norman was born Friday, September 13, 1929 in Glendale, Arizona the son of Edgar and Goldie (Foster) McCleary. When anything went wrong he always reminded us, jokingly, that he was born on Friday the 13th. Shortly after Norman was born, his family moved to Neosho, MO. As a young man he moved to Western Kansas to work on a livestock farm. On a trip home to visit his family, he met Lorene Bradshaw, who became his wife on March 22, 1950. To this union two children were born. Norman worked as a mail handler for a short time at Union Station and then he began his career as a Locomotive Engineer until his retirement. He and Lorene lived in Martin City for a short time then moved to a farm Harrisonville where he enjoyed raising Black Angus cattle. They lived for a short time in Kansas City, KS before moving to Adrian to be near their daughter and grandkids.

He grew many gardens and raised several different types of animals. His favorite project was his pet jenny. Norman said "he loved to hear a jenny bray better than a pretty girl sing." He also loved raising catfish. He said "If a fish wasn't 10" between the eyes, they weren't big enough to keep."

Norman taught his family to stand up for what they believed in, even if it was not the most popular and to not be too serious in life. He taught them to help others in their time of need and how to tell a joke or good story to lighten someone's day. Also to work hard and provide for your family; most importantly, love your family because they are who makes you the person you are. Norman was a good neighbor, great friend and was always ready to help anyone who needed help. . . "Pawee, you will be missed and we will remember and love you forever."

Norman was preceded in death by his parents; 1 son, Gene McCleary in 1984; 3 sisters, Joann Carroel, Marilyn Brashears and Patricia Ross. He is survived by his wife, Lorene, of the home; 1 daughter, Kathy Welliver and her husband, Roy, of Adrian, MO; 2 brother, Edgar McCleary, Jr. and Carl McCleary both of Neosho, MO; 2 sisters, Bonita Lewis of Lee's Summit, MO and Ina Lou Schmedike of Springfield, MO; 5 grandchildren, Scott Scharrer, Brian Welliver, Renee Willerton, Amy Swain and Heather Hodgins; 12 great-grandchildren, Haley, Caitlin, Jennifer, Jessica, Whitney, Kayla, Dylan, Tyler, Dakota, Dannielle, Dylan and Devin.