John “Jack” William Cleary died Friday, Dec. 26. He was born in St. Bernard, Ohio on July 22, 1928. He was preceded in death by his mother Eva, his father John, and his sister Ellen, all from St. Bernard, Ohio.
Cleary served in the United States Army from 1950 to 1952, and in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1952 to 1960. He had a long career in the fashion industry, lasting from 1976 to 2000, which included representing high-end clothing lines in a showroom at the Dallas Apparel Mart along with his long-term partner, Cal Watson.
Cleary was a devoted “friend of Bill W” for 35 years. He loved Alcoholics Anonymous and showed that love through service. He was well aware that the life he enjoyed was a result of the fellowship and steps of AA and did the best he could to give back through sharing the message and working with others.
Cleary leaves behind many friends whose lives he touched by helping others and letting them know he cared, and he should be remembered and admired for his enormous fortitude, a testament to the fact that AA works no matter the hardships of life, and most of all, a man capable of showing up when many would have faltered.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday Jan. 3, at 2 p.m. at Central Christian Church, 4711 Westside Drive in Dallas. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to either the Veteran’s Administration North Texas Health Care System, 4500 South Lancaster Road, Dallas, Texas 75216, or to the Dallas Intergroup Association, 6162 East Mockingbird Lane, Dallas, Texas 75214.
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition January 2, 2015.
Obituary • 01-02-2015
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