Mary Ann Cleland

Mary Ann Cleland, 84, of Shermans Dale, PA peacefully entered into the loving arms of her Heavenly Father on Thursday, January 27, 2022 at the Church of God Home in Carlisle, PA. Born May 4, 1937 in Shermans Dale, she was the daughter of Raymond and Esther (Owings) McAlister. Mary Ann graduated from high school in 1954 and was married that same year. In high school she studied as a “commercial” student, participated in school plays, played basketball and was the head cheerleader for three years. Following her marriage and the birth of her sons, she took a government placement exam, scoring high enough to be offered a position as Secretary to the Commander at the Mechanicsburg Naval Depot. Upon leaving that position to focus on raising her sons, she became a parent to her two daughters through foster care and adoption. Mary Ann had a profound belief in God and was very active in her church, teaching Sunday School and leading the Women’s fellowship group. She accepted the position of church secretary for the Shermans Dale Charge of the United Methodist Church, and when that position ended, she continued to provide weekly cleaning services for the church. Her love of children began early on as she worked as a live-in sitter during her high school summers. While raising her children as an at-home Mom, she would also watch others’ children in her home, operating the first licensed in-home preschool daycare in Perry County. Mary Ann was always creative and artistic. She loved to draw and paint, sew, quilt, garden, crochet, cook, read, and play the piano. She and her sister Nancy enjoyed singing on a radio show when they were young. In her later years, she developed a passion for creating and selling jewelry at craft shows. She and her husband “Eddie” enjoyed traveling by car across the United States, going to tropical locations for vacations and spent an entire month traveling in Europe. They spent their wedding anniversary in the New England states every year on a leaf-peeping trip in October. She is survived by her loving husband of 67 years, Neal Edwin Cleland Sr.; brother Raymond “Gene” McAlister and wife Arlene, of Mechanicsburg; a son Neal Jr. and wife Margit, of Colorado Springs, CO; son David and wife Denise, of Carlisle; daughter Frances Fry Smith and husband Dana, of Elizabethtown; daughter April Skethway and husband Shawn, of Elliottsburg; as well as 5 grandchildren: Adam Cleland, Ashley Cleland, Matthew Skethway and wife Chloe, Nathan Skethway, and Andrew Smith. She also has 5 greatgrandchildren: Zachary, Lilyana and Evan Cleland and Brynley and Teagan Skethway. She was preceded in death by three of her 4 siblings: older brothers Robert and Jack, and younger sister Nancy, and a grandson, Sharn Cleland, son of Neal Jr. A Service celebrating her life will be held at Young’s UM Church in Shermans Dale on Wednesday Feb. 2, 2022 at 11 am including visitation with family one hour prior to the service. A private burial will be held at the discretion of the family. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to Shermans Dale United Methodist Church Parsonage c/o Pastor Memorial Gift, 316 Burn Hill Rd. Shermans Dale PA, 17090 Please indicate that the contribution is in memory of Mary Ann Cleland. Checks made payable to Young's UMC. Boyer Family Funeral Homes and Cremation Services of New Bloomfield is honored to handle the arrangements for the Cleland Family.

Mary Ann Cleland

May 4, 1937 - January 27, 2022