John L. Clary

Mr. John Lewis Clary, 88 passed away on Saturday, October 22, 2022 at Montclair Park after a brief illness. Visitation will be from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m., a memorial service at 11:00 a.m., followed by a reception on Friday, November 4, 2022 at Noel United Methodist Church, 520 Herndon Street, Shreveport. Officiating will be Reverend Mimi McDowell.
Mr. Clary was a native of Star City, AR and resident of Dumas, AR (1935-1957), Camden, AR (1957-1971), Mobile, AL (1971-1979), and Shreveport (1979-2022). His formative years were in Dumas where the values of loving God and loving people shaped his life forever. In addition to a daily prayer life, John was a regular attender and active in the churches where he resided, serving as a Sunday school teacher/leader, numerous church committees, bible study leader/participant, and on mission trips to Mexico.
Mr. Clary loved the outdoors, fishing, hunting quail, and many sports, including playing football for Southern State College (now Southern Arkansas University) in Magnolia, AR where he also met his wife of nearly 65 years, Margaret "Sugar" Bird. John and Sugar began their lives together in Camden, soon adding Kyle, Kevin (deceased), and David to the family. John loved the game of golf, especially at East Ridge Country Club. He loved working in his yard - planting, gardening, and mowing. John was also a master of meats cooked on his grill.
John and Sugar were consistently together, never wanting to exclude the other from life's adventures. They were happiest in the kitchen preparing or cleaning up from a meal. John ensured the Clary family not only attended church, but enjoyed life together through picnics, fishing, camping, water skiing, 4th of July celebrations, days at the beach, Mardi Gras parades, Putt-Putt golf, attending and coaching countless football, basketball, and baseball games, many rounds of golf, and simply eating as a family at the dinner table. The whole family enjoyed celebrating John and Sugar's 50th wedding anniversary on a Western Caribbean cruise.
And oh, how Pop loved his grandkids – kind of a kid at heart himself, he would get down on all fours for bucking bronco rides, push the back yard rope swing, take them water skiing and tubing, play catch 'till dark, and just generally kid around – which at times led to being "in trouble" with Mimi to which he'd get big-eyed, raise his brows, and wiggle his ears. Pop was an excellent listener, attentive, and asked questions about friends, school, and their sports.
Upon graduation from SSC with a bachelor's degree in Education, Mr. Clary began his professional career as a teacher and football coach. He then joined International Paper Company, enjoying a 31-year career as a Safety manager, Human Resources manager, and finally as an Industrial/Labor Relations manager. He honored his employers with hard work, honesty, and loyalty.
John was a selfless man, putting God, his family, and others before himself. He modeled servant leadership with his wife, children, grandchildren, and friends in that the time he spent with them was not just about quality, but quantity too. He was genuinely interested in other people's lives, seeking the good in them, winning them over with humility and humor, often willing to share a laugh at his own expense. Despite a severe car accident in his prime, John had an amazing zeal for life, knowing God had spared him for a reason. He was a life-long blood donor.
Mr. Clary was preceded in death by his infant son, James Kevin Clary, parents John and Mellie Clary, brother Billy Charles Clary, and grandson Matthew Kyle Clary. He is survived by his wife Margaret Ann Bird Clary of 65 years, sons John Kyle Clary (Kate) and David Martin Clary (Ronda), grandchildren Lauren Clary Minatta (Brandon), John Nicholas Clary, Geoffrey Brinson Clary (Miley), David Cole Clary, and Caroline Michelle Clary, great-grandchildren Hayden Brooks Minatta and Blakely Madison Minatta.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers memorials be made to Noel UMC www.noelumc.org/give and/or the Alzheimer's Association www.alzfdn.org.