Daniel J. McCleary

Dan is survived by his wife Jill J. McCleary, his daughter Lindsay C. Laboski and grandchildren Cayde, Cayson, and Cannon, his son Matthew J. McCleary and his wife Karla and grandchildren Aiden and Brecken, his brother Clark B. McCleary, sister-in-law Robyn L. Dalby, and brother-in-law Alan B. Hatfield and many nieces and nephews.

Dan and his wife Jill would have been married 50 years on June 29, 2024.

He was preceded in death by his mother Irma Ester McCleary, his father Leroy Everett Ferkins McCleary, his mother-in-law Dorothy Jacobs Hatfield, his father-in-law Woodrow Thomas Hatfield, and his sister-in-law Judith Lou McCleary.

Dan was a faithful follower of Jesus Christ. Nothing gave him greater joy than sharing his love of Jesus with others. He always told his children to make sure their priorities in life were God, others and then yourself. Dan always had time for young people and anyone who needed someone to listen to them without of judgement. He lived his faith through his actions and fully demonstrated the admonition of "preach the gospel everyday letting others see the light that lives in you."

Dan served his country in the United States Army Reserves and was honorably discharged in 1972. He received a BA in Education from the State College in Iowa in 1966, an MA in Education from the University of Northern Iowa in 1969, and an MS in Financial Services from the American College in 1984.

Dan served professionally as Basketball Graduate Assistant at the University of Northern Iowa 1966-67, Head Basketball & Baseball Coach at Eastern Iowa Community College, 1967-1969, Assistant Basketball Coach at the University of Missouri, Columbia, 1969-1974, and as Financial Underwriter and Consultant with Guardian Life Insurance CO, Insurance & Investments 1974-2024. He held licensure as a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) 1979, and a Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) 1982.

His professional organizations and awards included President, Houston Business and Estate Planning Council, 1992 and President, Houston Chapter of the American Society from 1988 until 1989 and their National Board of Directors from 2003 until 2006. He was a recipient of the Paul Mills Scholarship, the Houston Society of Financial Service Professionals Distinguished Service Award, the American College Gold Key Role Model Award of 1996, and the Woody Woodson Award of 2000.

Dan was a faithful member of Houston's First Baptist Church were he served on Brother John's Pastor's Retirement Committee from 1999 until 2000 and as Sunday School Director of the Safe Harbor Class from 2001 until 2024.

Dan served the community as a Board Member of the Handicare Foundation, an Indian Guides and Indian Princess Tribal Chief, Cy-Fair YMCA, a YoungLife Advisory Council Member from 2006 until 2008, and the Coaches Outreach Leader for Cy Falls High School from 2014 until 2024. Throughout his lifetime, Dan coached and mentored hundreds of young men and women through the sports of basketball and baseball.

A memorial service will be held in Dan's honor at 11:00 AM on May 22, 2024 at Houston's First Baptist Church.

The family requests memorials and donations in Dan's honor be sent to: Coaches Outreach at: www.coachesoutreach.org Or mailed to: 14140 Midway Rd, Ste 102, Dallas, TX 75244