Rick Mccleester

A gathering to celebrate the life of Rick McCleester, 69, will be held from 2-4 PM on Saturday, January 21, 2023 at Davis-Babcock Funeral Home, 4154 Clark Avenue, Willoughby.

Mr. McCleester passed away Tuesday, January 17, 2023 at Hospice House in Cleveland.

Born February 15, 1953 in Johnstown, PA he has lived in northeast Ohio for the past 56 years.

Rick enjoyed cooking (and eating), was an expert in genealogy, boating on Lake Erie, dabbling in photography and coin collecting and he and Julie adored their annual trips to Jamaica. More than anything though, he loved his cats; 14 at last count.

He was employed as a machinist at the former Cleveland Twist Drill Company, Roll-Kraft Company and retired from Avtron just two years ago.

Survivors are his wife of 52 years, Julie (nee: Payne); daughter, Jennifer (Mike) Gilbride; grandsons, Joseph and Brady and brother, Randy. He also leaves many nieces and nephews and their families.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Clyde and Helen (Buck) McCleester and his sister, Bonnie Muccioli.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages contributions to Hospice of the Western Reserve, Inc., PO Box 72001, Cleveland, OH 44192-0002 or online at www.hospicewr.org/donate