Sue McCleary

Susan (Sue) Lynn McCleary, of Richland, passed away after a valiant battle with cancer on April 9, 2021 at the age of 71. A graveside service will be held on April 24th at 11am at the Richland Cemetery followed by a celebration of her life and food/refreshment will be provided at the Eagle Valley Grange Park.

Sue was born in Torrance, California on January 3, 1950 near the beach with her parents and two younger brothers.  She was a surfer girl and the singer in a band with her girlfriends.

Right after graduating from South High School Torrance, in 1968, she moved to Kailua, Hawaii where she worked for Qantas Airlines and enjoyed traveling the world.  She met Frank McCleary on the beach in Maui and they were married in Honolulu in 1973. They were drawn to Richland when they had first visited Frank's sister, Bette Doshier, who lived there. Frank loved the country life and dreamed of building his own house and having a big garden and orchard. With some convincing, Sue left her family in Hawaii and her job in the airlines so she could raise her kids in the country. When she was pregnant with her daughter Katie she began a job as a substitute mail carrier. Sue continued her career at the Post Office and became known as Richland’s cheerful mail carrier for 37 years until she retired in 2019.

Sue embraced the country life in Richland, joining the garden and quilting clubs, choirs, and dance groups.  She served as a Sunday School teacher, a cooking instructor for 4H, and served in many ways at the Nazarene Church. She won many ribbons at the Baker County fair in Halfway for her produce, art, and baked goods. Her sweet peaches at the “Farmers Markets” were always a hit and quick to sell out first. 

She treasured picnics, hiking, surfing, snorkeling, swimming, traveling, making music and dancing with her husband to live music. She loved her friends, family and most of all, her grandkids cherishing every moment with them. 

Sue was preceded in death by her parents, Ed and Joan (Hardwick) Youngs.

Sue is survived by her husband of 46 years Frank McCleary; son Sean and his wife Bryn McCleary of Portland, OR.; daughter Katie and her husband Brent Caulley of McKenzie Bridge, OR.;  5 grandchildren, Katelynn, Brook, Adrian, Quinn, and Beckett; brothers: Mark and his wife Laurie Youngs of Gresham, OR., Bill and his wife JoJo Youngs of Kailua, HI.;  aunt Barbara (Hardwick) Bradford of Alexandria, LA.

For those who would like to make a memorial donation in honor of Sue the family suggests the Hilary Bonn Benevolence Fund through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home and Cremation Services PO Box 543 Halfway, OR 97834. Online condolences can be shared at www.tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.com