Miriam Maxine McCleary, 96, of Warsaw, Ind., passed away at 2:30 a.m. Jan. 7, 2014, in Peabody Retirement Community, North Manchester, Ind.

She was born Oct. 4, 1917, in Claypool, Ind., to Cloyd and Ethel (Creighton) Dye. She was united in marriage to John Wayne McCleary on Jan. 1, 1936, who preceded her March 13, 1996.

Having lived most of her younger life in Maywood, Ill., a suburb of Chicago, Ill., she attended school through her sophomore year at Proviso High School, and then graduated from Warsaw High School in 1934 where her father was a high school teacher. She excelled in track and loved doing artistic drawings and painting as a hobby. She was a housewife on the family farm, worked part time at the Free Methodist Publishing House, Winona Lake, and 5 years at the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Services office, Warsaw.

She was a very active member, 79 years; teaching children at Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, and mission work, at Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church, Warsaw. An accomplished violinist, she played in various community philharmonic orchestras at Fort Wayne, Ind., Grace College and Manchester College. Miriam and her husband Wayne traveled in their motor home throughout the United States, spending the winter in Florida and Texas. They also enjoyed taking their grandchildren camping at Jellystone Campground.

She is survived by a son: David (Mary) McCleary; a daughter: Diane (Jim) Gast, Warsaw; a brother: Dr. Cloyed (Mary Lou) Dye, New Castle, Ind.; five grandchildren: Julie, Mike, Becky, Andy and Beth; and 11 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by a sister: Dorothy; one grandson: Michael; and one great-grandson: Austin.

Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 12, at McHatton-Sadler Funeral Chapel, Warsaw. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Jan. 13, at the funeral chapel with Pastors Bob and Becky Conelley officiating the services.

Memorial contributions may be directed to Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church, 2943 E. CR 400 S., Warsaw, IN 46580.

To sign the guest register or leave online condolences, visit the McHatton-Sadler Funeral Chapel website.