JoAnn Smith Cleckler

The Remarkable Life of JoAnn Cleckler

My Mom loved birds and all wildlife.

She loved dogs, ice cream, chocolate, and crossword puzzles.

She laughed often and had a good sense of humor.

She had a rich vocabulary and beautiful cursive writing.

She was well mannered, gracious, and had incredibly good taste.

She experimented with recipes, and when asked if she liked to cook, she said with a smile, “Not so much, but I LOVE to eat.”

She loved her friends and she knew how to be a good friend.

She was outgoing, vivacious, and had boundless energy.

She worried about EVERYONE.

She was always ready to help someone in need.

She loved LOAVES AND FISHES homeless shelter.

She loved kids of all ages.

She took up snow skiing after age 50, and learned to play the violin after retirement.

She loved music, could play by ear, read music, and played the piano all of her life.

She was an accomplished seamstress.

She was beautiful, generous, and kind.

She loved her church and she loved her God.

And my Mother loved her family.  Her life revolved around us.

She dearly loved my Father.

She loved her children; Sam, Jeff, and me.

She loved her son-in-law, Jim, and daughter-in-law, Tammy, as if they were her own children.

She loved her two grandsons, John and Thomas.

She was so proud of all of us.  Her face would light up when we came into a room.

All of us are so blessed to have had my Mother in our lives for so many years.

Thank you, God, for my Mom.

Jane Cleckler Burkholder

On my parents 50th Wedding Anniversary, Mom did not want a big party, only a

professional family picture.  She sent it out with this note she wrote.

September 2, 2000

Dear Family and Friends,

Today we are remembering                                    How much that God has blessed us.

That day 50 years ago,                                               So we hope that all of you

The day that we were married.                                             Will take a moment

Just a few close friends and family                                 To think of us and share in our joy

Sent us off together.                                                 For our lives that have been filled

The picture below will show                                            With work and purpose and love.

Love,

JoAnn & Doc

Please click on the Tribute Wall Tab above, then View All Gallery Uploads to view the anniversary photo.

Please scroll down to the bottom of the page for a video.

JoAnn Smith Cleckler

JoAnn Cleckler was welcomed home by God on Friday, January 29, 2021.  She will be profoundly missed by her family and many friends.

JoAnn was born August 13, 1931 and grew up in Montgomery Texas, the youngest of three children.  Her father was the superintendent of schools in Montgomery.  She had an idyllic childhood, riding horses bareback, swimming in the stock pond, carousing with her many friends, and supporting the football team as a cheerleader.  The summer before her senior year, the family moved to San Marcos.  She graduated from High School there at the age of 17, and began college at South West Texas State Teachers College.  She was the Freshman Class Favorite, a Twirler, and won third place in the College Beauty Contest.  She performed as a synchronized dancer at the aquifer springs which later became Aquarena Springs. She met Doc Cleckler in the college cafeteria when he threw a piece of bread at her to get her attention.  They truly adored each other and were married for 66 years. They moved to Harlingen in 1950 where they worked, raised their family, worshiped, and made lifelong friends.

Mrs. Cleckler taught High School Home Economics, Junior High Science, Elementary School, and held the position of Assistant Principal at Ben Milam Elementary School.  She had two Masters Degrees, one in Education Administration and one in Counseling.

After she retired, she chose Loaves and Fishes as her special volunteer project.  She was instrumental in creating awareness in the community for this homeless shelter.  An active volunteer with fundraising, she also continuously served on the Board of Directors until fairly recently.

JoAnn and Doc joined First Methodist Church in 1950, where she sang in the choir and has been an active member all these years.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Glen (Doc) Cleckler, a grandson, Mark Burkholder, her parents, Carlton and Gene Smith, and a brother, John (Anita) Smith.

She is survived by her daughter, Jane (Jim) Burkholder, sons, Sam and Jeff (Tammy) Cleckler, and grandsons, John Burkholder and Thomas Cleckler.  She is also survived by her sister, Wanda (Howard) and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family expresses our sincerest gratitude to friends and the community for the love you have shown now and throughout the years for Doc and JoAnn.

To protect friends and family during this pandemic, we have chosen to honor JoAnn and celebrate her life with a eulogy and slide show on the Buck Ashcraft website.

Donations in her memory may be made to Loaves and Fishes of RGV, First United Methodist Church Harlingen, or Humane Society of Harlingen.