Cheryl "Ann" McClelland Stanley

Cheryl "Ann" McClelland Stanley

1945-2024

Ann McClelland, a dear long-time friend to many, was born in Hawthorne, CA, the only child of Don and Ruth McClelland. She passed away unexpectedly at her home in San Juan Capistrano after a lengthy respiratory illness.

Ann was pre-deceased by her parents and her loving husband, John Stanley. She is survived by her stepdaughter, Tara Stanley Juergens of San Marcos, CA, and Tara's two children Brianna Gi and John Stanley Taber, as well as a new grandson Samuelu Gi. Also surviving are her stepdaughter Lorna Stanley Winger of Seattle, WA and Lorna's children Kendra, Kyara and Kaleb; her cousin Joann Bellen of San Francisco, CA; and her beloved cat, Kenzy.

On Thursday, April 25th from noon to 3 p.m. a memorial open house will be held at Ann's home at 26566 Paseo del Mar, Apt. D, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675.

Ann grew up in the Hollywood Riviera section of Torrance, not far from the beach. She attended Newton Elementary School and South Torrance High School, graduating from the latter in 1963. She made many lasting friendships at South High and over many subsequent years helped to plan and implement periodic class reunions. We were so happy that she attended our most recent class reunion last year.

Ann was an opinionated, quirky and obstinate only child who loved reading, disliked exercise, loved shopping, hated over-spending, loved action films, hated subtitles, loved fast food, hated cooking, refused any toppings on her hamburger, detested vegetables - especially when cooked. Ann could drive waiters crazy, loved her apartment, and abhorred travel. Like many of us, she struggled with change but in later years, became more flexible and accepting of human differences.

Early in life she loved horses, and although Ann never owned one, she enjoyed riding lessons and exploring the Palos Verdes area with friends on horseback. After a year at El Camino College she transferred to UCLA where she earned a BA in Psychology. After commencement, Ann began a successful career in retail sales at Joseph Magnin, then a high-end specialty department store. Positions she held at Magnin included as a department manager in handbags (never say "purses," she would insist) and then as an assistant buyer. After Magnin she worked happily for many years as an administrative assistant at Randall McAnany, a commercial painting and wallpaper contractor in Los Angeles. There, too, she made a number of lifelong friends, most of whom she outlived. When she later moved to Orange County, she enjoyed working in various arts venues.

Throughout her life she took art courses periodically. Like her father who was an artist at Northrop Corporation, she enjoyed painting and drawing. Some of her paintings were entered in juried art shows, others were sold, and many of her beautiful watercolors she gave to her friends. She worked toward a certificate in Interior Design at UCLA Extension and applied her growing expertise in the decorative arts by redecorating at least one friend's home and trying her hand as a free-lance interior designer working with a contemporary furniture store.

Her high school and college boyfriends never fully captured her heart. Nor did the post-college boyfriend who persuaded her to try sky diving! Even so, she proved herself to be courageous, whether in the saddle atop a thundering steed or packing a parachute and blithely stepping out into thin air. But in 1996, at the age of 51, she took the longest jump of all and fell in love with John Stanley, Esq. That was when she moved out of the South Bay for the first time and settled down in San Clemente, to be close to John's law practice. Early in their married life the couple adopted Kelly, a beloved cat. Ann also volunteered in an equine therapy program in the area, until it was discontinued.

After just 12 years of a happy marriage, John passed away unexpectedly. Ann said she counted herself extremely fortunate to have married John, partly because - although she never wanted to have children of her own - he gave her the gift of family that had been missing from her life. She loved both of John's adult daughters and their children. They stayed in touch, exchanged gifts, celebrated holidays and family events together and provided mutual support. She was very excited about the upcoming great grandson.

Most recently Ann was an associate at the San Clemente branch of Home Goods. It was yet another experience that she enjoyed a great deal, she confided - as long as it didn't involve taking inventory. And she expressed gratitude for colleagues there who helped during what turned out to be her final illness.

Wherever Ann lived, worked or studied there was one common denominator - if she chose you, you became her lifelong friend. Friendship may well have been the greatest gift she gave to those around her.