David William McCleerey

Missoula - David William McCleerey 84, of Missoula passed away Friday June 7th at St. Patrick’s hospital in Missoula, MT. He was born December 12, 1939, in Big Timber Montana to Ralph and Mary McCleerey. Dave joined the Marine Corp and completed flight school in Pensacola, FL. He fought for our country flying helicopters in Vietnam. His fellow marines gave him the nick name Taz for obvious reasons. After Vietnam Dave returned to Montana and used the GI bill to go to school at the University of Montana where he met his wife Janis D Shepard. They were married on November 23, 1968. Dave graduated from the University of Montana in 1971, with a degree in wildlife biology. Dave continued to fly helicopters in the national guard as well as for wildland fire. He started his career as a biologist with the Forest Service in Havre, Montana, where he and Jan adopted their first child Margaret. Dave and the family moved back to Missoula to work for the Bureau of Land Management. In 1983 Dave and Jan adopted their daughter Jennifer. Dave was incredibly involved with his girl’s coaching softball, taking them fishing and camping and showing them the beauty of Montana. In 2001 Dave became a grandad to Abigail. He and Abigail spent hours doing 4H projects. Abigails passion for breeding goats and working with livestock kept Dave busy helping her in the barn. He is survived by his daughter Margaret M McCleerey of Phoenix, AZ and his Granddaughter Abigail L McCleerey of Missoula, MT

The celebration of life will be Saturday June 15 at 10 am at Whitesitt Funeral Home, 314 Church Street in Stevensville, MT. Immediately following the service, we will have a graveside memorial service with military honors at Florence Carleton Cemetery located at 20075 Old US Hwy 93 in Florence, MT.

In Lieu of flowers the family would like donations to go to the wounded warrior project or the Vietnam Veterans Memorial fund.

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