Robert Bruce McCleary

Funeral services for Robert Bruce McCleary, 75, of Tulsa, were held Monday, October 30, 2017 at Johnson Funeral Chapel in Sperry, OK. Reverend Les Glover officiated and burial was in White Dove Cemetery in Sparks, OK. Honorary casket bearers were Lest Glover, Body McCleary, Russ Harmer, Robert McCleary and Don Burgett.

Robert was born March 9, 1942 to John Berry and Mary Agnes (Napier) Copp. He passed away October 19, 2017 in Tulsa, OK.

He was the third of seven children. In June 1947 Robert was adopted by Mary Alma and Otis McCleary in Fall River, KS. He attended elementary school in Quincy, KS and attended high school in Virgil, KS and graduated from Chandler HS in OK in 1961. Robert served in the United States Army as Military Police. He worked in many different fields including construction, furniture Sales, car sales, sewing machine sales, carpentry, truck driving, house moving, DEA Agent, bounty hunting, and Law enforcement. However, his main passion was in the music industry as a musician and song writer. He shared the stage to play with country singers like Ronnie Milsap, Gene Watson, Mel Tillis, Randy Travis, Merle Haggard, and Roy Clark just to mention a few. He was a guest on the Grand Ole Opry and performed at Gilley’s and various shows in Branson. He was a top 3 finalist in the National Karaoke Contest in Laughlin, NV in September 2007 and received a recording contract with Sonic Records. He was a hard worker and a man very dedicated to the task at hand in whatever it was he was doing. He had many talents. He once said “God gave me a lot of talents and I’ve been blessed to accomplish and do all of the things that I have done.” And when my day comes, I can look at God and say Lord, I used each and every one with my all. I know my life was complicated and I believe you had your reasons of which I did not understand the challenges, the unexpected, and the loneliness I could never grasp. But Lord, I’m still thankful for it all even if I didn’t understand. I’m also thankful for all of the good you blessed me with and the bad made me who I am. Along with the loving friends you blessed me with as you know I would not have made it this far without them. Robert married Nellie Geraldine Burger of Sparks, OK in Chandler, OK in 1961. From that union, were born Robert W. McCleary, Nellie E. Lloyd, and Clarence B. McCleary. He then married Lucille McCrockin and from that union was born Karmen L. McCleary.

He is survived by his fiancée, Janet Bates of Tulsa; children, Boyd McCleary, Robert McCleary, Elaine Lloyd of Joplin, MO, Karmen Coursey of Joplin, MO, Charman Turner, Sandra Harmer, Rebecca Bates, Jody Reynolds and Michael Bates; sisters, Leona Wright of Chandler and Debbie Maxtton; brother, Wayne Meredith; and many other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John Berry and Mary Copp, and Otis and Mary McCleary; brothers, Dee Copp, Darrell Copp and Billy Berry.