John Leo Cawley Jr.

John Leo Cawley Jr., 91, died unexpectedly on Saturday, Feb. 24, at Mercy Hospital following a brief illness. His wife of 53 years, Mary Miller Cawley, preceded him in death in 1996.

Born in South Scranton, he was the son of the late John Leo and Veronica Murphy Cawley Sr.

He graduated from St. John the Evangelist High School in Scranton, the Wharton School of Business, and the University of Scranton with a bachelor's degree in accounting.

He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, serving with the 58th Quartermaster Base Depot Headquarters Company stationed at Ft. Lee, Va., and served in Belgium and France, as well as the Pacific. He was discharged with the rank of master sergeant.

He was employed by the General Motors Corporation for more than 45 years, beginning with a small dealership in Dunmore and moving on to become Eastern Regional Used Trucks and Sales Manager, working in New Jersey and Philadelphia. He would leave his home at 4 a.m. each Monday and return home from his job each Friday. He retired from GMC and from the job he loved at the age of 70.

Known as "Jack" to many, he was a true Irish gentleman with a story to tell, a compliment to give, or a hand to lend to anyone in need. He was the ultimate family man to his own children, his children's friends, and to the children of the many friends he met while working outside of Scranton. He was an avid reader of history, mystery and Shakespeare.

He and his beloved wife, Mary, traveled extensively while attending reunions with his 58th QMBD fellow veterans throughout the United States and Europe.

He was honored in 2005 as one of the oldest members of St. John the Evangelist Church. He belonged to its Holy Name Society and served for more than 50 years as an usher. He was a man of great faith who believed saying a rosary would solve any possible problem he had.

Surviving are two daughters, Nancy Crafferty of Clarks Summit and Betty Moreken and her husband, Thomas, with whom he resided of Scranton; two grandsons, Todd and Timothy Moreken of Savannah, Ga.; a granddaughter, Katie Crafferty Raymer and her husband, Brian, of Scranton; a sister, Mary Cawley Malloy of Clarks Summit; a sister-in-law, Helen Cawley of Dunmore; and numerous nieces and nephews. He eagerly awaited the birth of his first great-grandson, who is expected in July.

He was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Jane; a granddaughter, Erin Jessica Moreken; a son-in-law, Dennis Crafferty; a sister, Gertrude Cawley Whalen; and a brother, Joseph Cawley.

Calling hours will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 28, at the Regan Funeral Home, 1900 Pittston Ave., Scranton, PA 18505. The funeral will be held with Mass at 10 a.m. on Thursday, March 1, at St. John the Evangelist Church, 1501 Pittston Ave., Scranton, PA 18505, celebrated with the Rev. Scott Sterowski, pastor. Interment will be held in the Cathedral Cemetery, Oram Street, Scranton.

Friends who are attending the funeral may proceed directly to the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Erin Jessica Moreken Drug and Alcohol Treatment Fund Inc., 1328 Myrtle St., Scranton, PA 18510.