Obituary of Leonard Milton McCleary

Leonard McCleary The Son of Barbara Ludrick and George McCleary Born Leonard Milton McCleary on February 20th, 1963, in Philadelphia PA. A handsome baby boy whom everyone adored. His fat round face and deep dimples. As a toddler he started very early being mischievous and somewhat of a dare devil. Anything that required you not to tell, is what he wanted to do, giving whoever was witnessing his actions, cause to worry and wonder if you going to get a spanking too when he gets caught. Anything risky he was down to try. Leonard grew up in the house with his sister Lynn and his cousin Kim where manners, and respect was a must always told to be polite when out and to not show out in public. and even when his parents were separated, he still was at both parent's home, his mother and father were always on one accord with how to raise their children and when punishment was needed it remained the same at both homes, his parent remained friends for the sake of their children and later their grandchildren. Leonard and his sister spent all their summer and Christmas holidays for years in Greenville South Carolina with their paternal grandparents Getty and Hester McCleary who were very loving, nurturing and fun. He learned how to work on a farm which he enjoyed feeding the animals, picking tobacco and vegetables, milking cows and collecting eggs. He learned woodwork from his uncle Pat who could build anything. What he enjoyed most was his oldest brother Danny and cousins, who stayed in the house too for the summer and family who visited daily and family that would also visit for the summer his favorite cousin was Daron from Brooklyn who had a million gangster stories about his neighborhood that now we know most were made up. Leonard also had a huge family in Philadelphia whom he had the best time with. His many cousins who were always right there too at his maternal grandmother Margret Kelly and Aunt Cecilia Mercer house, he loved it over there, playing and swimming at the playground, kickball in the driveway and football in the street. Grandmom and Aunt Cecilia is where he would go to get out of trouble by staying many nights until his punishment at home was up. Leonard had a soft spot for children, he loved getting them railed up and within minutes would have them repeating a phrase or a part of a song you would come to dislike because he and the children would say it a thousand time on repeat. He was quite the pod piper of the children. He enjoyed his many nieces, Kimora was his favorite, daughter of his sister Monica who he shared many good times with and his nephews, 2 of which he shared his Birthday week with Darrell and Dauor who was born 2 days before his Birthday Leonard was so excited, he painted his room, put down the carpet and helped his sister Lynn decorate the baby's room. The other side of Leonard, he loved to lecture about manners respect and hard work, he loved to tell stories about how he was raised, and the schools he attended. Leonard's early education from kindergarten to 5th grade was at Saint Mary's of the Eternal School. He was an A student, very smart and had a need to be challenged even harder because he finished his work most times ahead of his class. He went to Julia Ward Howe for 6th grade but after that one year in public school, he returned to Catholic school at Saint Columbus where he decided on his own, he wanted to be Baptized and Confirmed. He graduated from 8th grade at Saint Columbus and began High school at Roman Catholic Boys High school where he played football his first year. He would later go to Troy High after Roman did not work out, he then tried Job Corp after coming home and he attended Olney High where he discovered he did not like school. He found his way to the Army recruiting office at 17 he asked his mom who after meeting with the recruiter with a million questions while his dad was traveling with his job, they both agreed to let him go although he was too young back then when you were allowed to go at that age. He served 4 years where he trained and worked as an Electrician and also trained as a Sharpshooter during the time of his deployment to Germany, his daughter Yetevia Mangum was born and would later give him 5 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. Once back home from the Army he began to work with his father who was a Super attendant for a major construction and demolition company (Cleveland Wrecking and Demolition) he learned many jobs but became exceptionally good at using the torch burning, he then continued to be referred to Construction jobs even after his father retired he was well relied upon by the people who were impressed by his work ethic. Leonard learned to work even better with his hands, he began to work with contractors rehabbing homes, laying concrete, plumbing, and doing handy work. Leonard leaves to mourn 1 Daughter Yetevia 3 Grandsons Devon, Da'Quan, and DahSier, 2 Granddaughters, Ariannah and Anaiyah also 5 Great Grandchildren Zaeem, Halaila, Zy'Aire, Ayden and Avion. His mother, Barbara Ludrick, father, George McCleary and stepmother Keturah McCleary, 2 sisters Lynn and Monica McCleary, 1 sister in-law, Carolyne Collington, 1 Brother, Edwin Smith stepbrother Roney Matthews. Nephews Darrell, Daron, Dauor, Donovin, Edwin, Jaden,Tony, Shawn, NaNa, Naya, Kimmora, Layla and host of great nephews and nieces and family he adored.