Cletus MacDonald, 87, Tunkhannock, died Thanksgiving day at Allied Services Hospice Center. He was the husband of the former Miriam Parker, who preceded him in death in 2006.
Born in the Bellevue section of Scranton, son of the late Cletus and Dorothy Nolan MacDonald, he was a member of Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Tunkhannock. A 1949 graduate of West Scranton High School, after attending Spring Garden College, he worked for Arch T. Flower in Philadelphia, where he was a member of the Carpenter's Union. He later operated his own landscaping business in Montgomery and Bucks Counties and, in later years, became a store manager for Shop Rite in Warminster and, later, Brick's Market in Tunkhannock.
A loving father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, Cletus was a carpenter, landscaper, fisherman and hunter who passed on much wisdom to his friends and family over the years. He avidly researched his own heritage and was very proud of his roots, both Scottish and Native American Mi'kmaq, as he was a member of the Seven Nations. His only regret was that he didn't pay closer attention to his mother and grandmother speaking Gaelic during his youth. He will be deeply missed but fondly remembered by his friends and family.
He is survived by daughters, Cheryl MacDonald Sweet and husband, Harold, Clarks Summit; and Maureen McGavin and husband, Christopher, Tunkhannock; sons, Cletus III and wife, Meg, Perkasie; and George and wife, April, Parker Ford; 13 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; a sister, Mary Dorothy Canavan; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was also preceded in death by brothers, Thomas "Macker" MacDonald and Donald MacDonald.
The funeral will be Monday with Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 99 E. Tioga St., Tunkhannock, followed by interment at Clarks Green Cemetery.
Friends may call Sunday from 2 to 6 p.m. at Harding-Litwin Funeral Home, 123 W. Tioga St., Tunkhannock. The family requests that those attending the funeral on Monday please proceed directly to the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Allied Services Hospice Center, 511 Morgan Highway, Scranton, PA 18508.
Arrangements are being handled by his cousin, Neil W. Regan Funeral Home Inc., 1900 Pittston Ave., Scranton.