Obituary of Donald Henry McClory

CORTLAND, NY – Donald Henry "Don" McClory, 93, passed away in his home surrounded by family on March 30, 2021 after a short illness caused by a heart attack. Don was born Oct. 30, 1927 to John and Stella (Howard) McClory in Malden, Mass., one of six children. He attended schools in Malden and graduated from Malden High School in 1946. He sang with his older sister Lila with the USO and Red Cross to entertain hospitalized soldiers during World War II. He recorded an album, which we still enjoy listening to today. He married Angeline Jones on June 21, 1958 In Cortland, NY, where he remained for the rest of his life. He and Angeline built a new home together in 2015. He worked at Brockway Motor Company before being injured on the job and disabled. Don was a member of Homer Avenue United Methodist Church, where he continued his love of music as part of the choir and also as a soloist for many years. He took up painting in the early 1970s after becoming disabled. Many of his paintings hang in his home as well as in the homes of his children and grandchildren. He loved to tell stories to his family and friends, especially those showing the vast differences between when he was growing up and now. He told a story of escorting a young U.S. Senator named John F. Kennedy into an event in Massachusetts and told his mother he had just met a future president. Don is survived by his wife, Angeline; his children Judy (Carl) Fejedelem of Alabama from a prior marriage, Donna (Chris) McClory-Lyon of Cortland, and Daniel (Lorie) McClory of New Hampshire; grandchildren Rachel Clark, Rebecca Roberts, Crystal Lyon, Tiffany (Rich) Lyon Ackerman, Shawn McClory and Erin McClory; eight great-grandchildren, including Juno Ackerman; siblings Lila Cusson and Robert McClory, both of Massachusetts; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his siblings William McClory, Elizabeth Conway and Mary Gherson. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 3 at Homer Avenue United Methodist Church. Visitation is 1-1:45 p.m.; service at 2. You may stream the service directly at https://www.hdezwebcast.com/show/livestream or by visiting the Wright-Beard Funeral Home website and viewing Don's obituary and clicking live funeral stream. Masks and social distancing will be required. His ashes will be interred at Cortland Rural Cemetery at a later date. The family extends heartfelt thanks to the personnel at Guthrie Cortland Medical Center and St. Joseph's Hospital Visiting Nurses, especially José and Mary; Nascentia Health Options for organizing rides to appointments; the TLC Ambulance Service; and Hospicare & Palliative Care Services of Ithaca and Cortland. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Homer Avenue United Methodist Church, 30 Homer Ave., Cortland, NY 13045; St. Jude's Children's Hospital (www.stjude.org); or Cortland County Hospice, 172 E. King Rd., Ithaca, NY 14850. The Wright-Beard Funeral Home is serving the family, online condolences may be made at www.wright-beard.com