Marie McCleary Woodbury

Our Mom, Nana, Auntie Marie has gone to be with God and her family that went before her.

We have lost our matriarch, our Queen, most precious Marie.

Marie was born on April 26, 1933 in the heart of London to two Irish immigrants, John “Jack” and

Margaret Ann “Madge” McCleary.  She had an older sister Margaret, “Peggy” and a younger sister, Helen Jean “Jean”.

When WWII broke out for England in 1939 she was six years old she and her younger sister were evacuated to Limerick to their mother’s sister, Auntie B's, for safety.  Her older sister went to live with the nuns in Wales.  She lived in Limerick for a couple years with eight other cousins and she got to know them very well.  She went to Catholic school in Limerick, St Mary’s.  She also had her First Holy Communion in Limerick.  

Her mother came to pick the girls up by ship and returned home to England after their home in London was bombed out and they were relocated outside the city where they were safe. Jean, her older sister, returned home also from her stay in Wales when Marie was about 12 years old.  At 15 years she left school and started working as an apprentice dress maker and seamstress in London.  She became very talented in sewing.  Throughout her life she sewed clothes, prom dresses, wedding dresses, clothes for her own children, grandchildren and had quite an eye for fashion.  Later on she made a few quilts and tried her hand at many other crafts.  

Marie always loved dancing at the dance places in London and up until a few years ago she could really cut a rug.  At one of these dances, she met an American service man and started dating him.  Her first American date.  She ended up marrying him in 1953 and when he got orders to return to the states his rank didn't allow her to travel to the states with him.  In 1954, she traveled in high style back to the states on the Queen Mary.  She had her first daughter, Jacqueline Theresa, three months old at the time, with her and "Red”, the Irish Setter. 

Her young family did a lot of traveling from base to base. She had her second daughter, Sharon Ann, in 1955 in San Bernardino, California, and her third child, Marc Dane, in West Palm Beach, Florida in 1958.  We all traveled around the States and Europe.  She loved traveling, and seeing Rome, Italy, Germany, and went home to England a couple times.

When she married Lyle D. Woodbury in 1969, they ended up traveling overseas again and this time the family went to The Netherlands.  This was one of the best times of her life.  Lyle was her true love.  Marie was involved with all kinds of social activities including: dancing, traveling, and she loved sports of all kinds.  She truly exercised her whole life and made it to 92 yrs old, so it did pay off.

When she returned to the states in 1976 Lyle, her husband was stationed at Mountain Home AFB. She and her husband bought a home in Boise and then he retired.  She worked at a bank at first doing filing and then was promptly promoted to loan officer.  She worked many jobs once a manager of a retail store in Boise, later on in banks when she moved to Reno and Incline Village.  

The focal point of her life was her grandchildren and great grandchildren they were perfect in every way in her opinion. She’d move heaven and earth for them and her children.  Even the grandchildren that brought friends around called her Nana.  She was always ready to celebrate birthdays, Christmas and every occasion that called for it.  She was always dressed so fashionably, looking pretty and smelling of her best perfume.  She was always open to hugs, kisses and a good laugh.

Marie was very active throughout her life with Jazzercise, bowling, golfing, dancing she moved so fast no one could keep up.  She made many, many lasting friendships over the years.  It was always a surprise how many people she befriended, whether from her daughters and son friends, grandchildren’s friends, jazzercise friends, bowling friends, church friends. She loved dogs and cats, and they loved her.  Marie was a kind friend to all.

Marie leaves behind her three children: Jacqueline T. Melanson, Sharon Barrows and Marc Barrows; grandchildren: Jessica Barnett, Kristen Melanson, Zachary Barrows, and Benjamin Barrows; great grandchildren: Sophia Barnett, Malachi Barnett, Lila Barnett, Kyra Doumbouya, Isack Doumbouya, Alyson Barrows, Jameson Barrows and Kae Barrows. She leaves behind her family overseas: her niece, Jane Price in the UK; her nephews: Jerry Greenaway, and Marc Greenaway of Australia, and many, many friends.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Lyle D Woodbury whom she loved dearly; grandson, Aaron Melanson; son-in-law, Greg Melanson; parents and sisters.

Marie’s family would like to extend a special thank you to Enhabit Hospice for all the help and compassion. Thank you to Troy, Mario, Carrie, and all the others who took such great care of Marie in her final days.

Marie, we are all going to miss you so very much.  We know you are with God and all your family and friends that have passed before you.  We love you Mom, Auntie, Nana Marie.  The world is going to miss this amazing woman.  Rest in peace you have done all you could do valiantly.