Mary Lou (Gossard) McCleary, 95, passed away on Thursday, April 30, 2026, in Fort Wayne. She was born in Lima, Ohio, to the late Avery and Marie Gossard. She lived most of her life on a farm in Lafayette, Ohio, where she raised three children with her husband, Glenn (deceased).
Mary is survived by one of her children, Ronald (Della) McCleary and a daughter-in-law, Nancy (John) McCleary; grandchildren: Heather (Alec) Spencer, Sandi (Brian) Pattison, Bradley (Megan) McCleary, Dr. Grant (Hannah) McCleary, and John McCleary II: great-grandchildren: Hailey McCleary, Nathan Bryan, Logan Spencer, Hannah Bryan, Ethan Spencer, Lucas McCleary, Jenna McCleary, and Messer McCleary.
She also was preceded in death by her daughter, Barbara McCleary; son, Dr. John McCleary; two brothers; and five sisters.
A graveside service will be Saturday, May 23, 2026, at 2:00 pm, at Lafayette Cemetery in Lafayette, Ohio. A Celebration of Life (with lunch to follow) will take place Saturday June 27, 2026, at 10:00 am at Robinson Chapel United Methodist Church, Fort Wayne, IN. Pastor David Gossard will officiate both services. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to Robison Chapel United Methodist Church.