Gladys Mae Clear, age 92, of Greenville died peacefully at 12:06 pm Tuesday, November 16, while working in her yard at her residence.
Mae was born February 16, 1929, in Adams County, Ohio, to the late Lawrence & Clarabelle Violet (Fewless) Stetler. In addition to her parents, Mae was also preceded in death by her husband, Frank Clear Jr. on July 31, 2005, whom she married March 12, 1949; son, James A. Clear; great-granddaughter, Corynna Strawser; brother, LaVerne Stetler of Decatur, IN; 3 half-brothers; 1 half-sister; and her beloved cat, Molly.
Mae is survived by her children, Teresa Stetler-Clear of Greenville, Cynthia (Colin) Garrett of Greenville and Chris (Lori) Clear of Greenville; daughter-in-law, Cathy Clear of Greenville; grandchildren, Kristi (Sean) Strawser, Chad (Mandy) Garrett, Dusty Cook, Rob (Amber) Garrett, Michael (Jessie) Mowery, Elizabeth Garrett, Jordan Clear, Nicki (Justin) Sommer, Lacy Clear Kaleigh Clear, Taylor Clear, Madison Clear; as well as numerous great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Mae left home at 14 to go to work. She waited tables in a restaurant and worked at a dry cleaner in Decatur, IN. That is where she met Frank, who was working in a shoe store. Early in their marriage Frank joined the military. Shortly after his discharge from service, Frank and Mae moved to Greenville where they opened Clear’s Shoe Store. Mae loved to decorate the windows of the shoe store, which she did through-out the years while caring for the couple’s 4 children and creating a beautiful home. Mae became skilled at refinishing furniture and used her earnings to begin collecting primitive antiques. Primitive antiques were her passion. Mae was also prolific hand quilter who taught many others to quilt. In addition, Mae loved working in her yard and was an avid gardener – in later years joined by her beloved cat Molly, who sat next to her as she gardened. Likewise, many people came to know Mae from the annual garage sale she held each May for over 30 years.
A celebration of Mae’s life will be held at 7:00 pm Monday, November 22, 2021, at Zechar Bailey Funeral Home in Greenville with Rev. Gary Oser officiating. The family will receive friends on Monday from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at the funeral home. Burial will follow at a later date in Greenville Union Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to EverHeart Hospice in Mae’s memory.
Condolences for the family may be expressed through www.zecharbailey.com