Obituary for Heather Vivien McCleary (Boulton)
Heather Boulton McCleary passed away on February 10, 2022, at the age of 98 at Friendship Village in Upper St. Clair, PA. She was born in Dayton, OH on June 19, 1923, one of five children to Berthoud Clifford Boulton and Wenonah Berry Boulton. Her father’s job as an aeronautical engineer required her family to move many times around the East Coast until they ultimately relocated to Southern California via an adventurous trip through the Panama Canal while she was in her teens. She graduated high school from the Bishop’s School in La Jolla, CA prior to earning a bachelor’s degree from Pomona College in Claremont, CA in 1946.
Heather then moved to Birmingham, MI where she met the love of her life, Edward “Luke” McCleary. After a brief courtship, they were married in 1947. Luke’s job took them to Pueblo, CO and then back to the East Coast. They ended up settling in Buffalo, NY where they raised their family.
Always up for an adventure, Heather was excited to retire in Colorado where Luke was born and raised. Heather and Luke lived in Montrose, CO for over 20 years, where they were active in the community, always up for a square dance and enthusiastic gardeners (the process to make homemade horseradish left its fiery footprint on her Cuisinart many times!). Heather and Luke enjoyed 57 years of marriage until Luke’s passing in 2005. A few years later, Heather moved to Upper St. Clair to be closer to family.
An enthusiastic, lifelong bridge player, she loved her daily games at Friendship Village. Her life was also filled with creative pursuits such as making stained glass lamps, wood carving and knitting Christmas stockings for her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Heather was always eager to try something new, be it a weeklong overnight horseback trail ride in Colorado with Luke in their 70s or joyriding with her great granddaughter in her Power Wheels Barbie car while in her 90s.
She delighted in spending time visiting and traveling with her family. One of the last trips that she and Luke took together was to visit their son in Lake Tahoe where they enjoyed rafting down the Truckee River. Some years later, while driving to California with her daughters, she enjoyed her introduction to Las Vegas, which included her first experience with room service at the age of 85 and having a glass of Chardonnay while watching the Bellagio water show from their room and snuggling in her white plush robe.
Heather was a lifelong optimist and a bright spot in the lives of all who knew her. Never putting on airs, she was genuine and always made others feel special. She was a devoted wife and mother and will be missed by all those who loved her and were in her life.
Heather is survived by her three children, Larry McCleary, Sandra Nicklas and Janet (Richard) Wetter; two grandchildren, David (Megan) Nicklas and Steven (Rebecca Ahrens-Nicklas) Nicklas; and six great grandchildren, Addison, Riley and Nathaniel Nicklas and Amelia, Henry and Oliver Nicklas.
The family is planning a memorial service at a later date.
If you wish to remember Heather, gifts in her memory may be made to:
Residence Association of FVSH TMAF
Friendship Village
1290 Boyce Rd
Pittsburgh, PA 15241
Heather then moved to Birmingham, MI where she met the love of her life, Edward “Luke” McCleary. After a brief courtship, they were married in 1947. Luke’s job took them to Pueblo, CO and then back to the East Coast. They ended up settling in Buffalo, NY where they raised their family.
Always up for an adventure, Heather was excited to retire in Colorado where Luke was born and raised. Heather and Luke lived in Montrose, CO for over 20 years, where they were active in the community, always up for a square dance and enthusiastic gardeners (the process to make homemade horseradish left its fiery footprint on her Cuisinart many times!). Heather and Luke enjoyed 57 years of marriage until Luke’s passing in 2005. A few years later, Heather moved to Upper St. Clair to be closer to family.
An enthusiastic, lifelong bridge player, she loved her daily games at Friendship Village. Her life was also filled with creative pursuits such as making stained glass lamps, wood carving and knitting Christmas stockings for her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Heather was always eager to try something new, be it a weeklong overnight horseback trail ride in Colorado with Luke in their 70s or joyriding with her great granddaughter in her Power Wheels Barbie car while in her 90s.
She delighted in spending time visiting and traveling with her family. One of the last trips that she and Luke took together was to visit their son in Lake Tahoe where they enjoyed rafting down the Truckee River. Some years later, while driving to California with her daughters, she enjoyed her introduction to Las Vegas, which included her first experience with room service at the age of 85 and having a glass of Chardonnay while watching the Bellagio water show from their room and snuggling in her white plush robe.
Heather was a lifelong optimist and a bright spot in the lives of all who knew her. Never putting on airs, she was genuine and always made others feel special. She was a devoted wife and mother and will be missed by all those who loved her and were in her life.
Heather is survived by her three children, Larry McCleary, Sandra Nicklas and Janet (Richard) Wetter; two grandchildren, David (Megan) Nicklas and Steven (Rebecca Ahrens-Nicklas) Nicklas; and six great grandchildren, Addison, Riley and Nathaniel Nicklas and Amelia, Henry and Oliver Nicklas.
The family is planning a memorial service at a later date.
If you wish to remember Heather, gifts in her memory may be made to:
Residence Association of FVSH TMAF
Friendship Village
1290 Boyce Rd
Pittsburgh, PA 15241