Obituary of Claude McNear

It is with great sadness that we announce that Deacon Claude McNear, Jr. (“Junie”) of Woodbine, NJ passed away on September 20, 2024, at the age of 90. Claude, a long-time resident of Woodbine, attended Millville High School where he was a standout on the football field for the Thunderbolts. In 2003 Claude was inducted into the Millville Sports Hall of Fame along with the legendary 1953 Thunderbolt Football Team, a season in which Claude scored 15 touchdowns. Claude went on to proudly served his country in the United States Army. Claude will be remembered most of all as a dedicated husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, family member, and friend. He was predeceased by his wife of over 50 years Cornelia McNear; his three sons: Lenard McNear, Cary McNear, and Larry Horn; his mother Cleo McNear (Wilcher, Maiden Name); his father Claude McNear; his brothers: Aaron McNear (his wife Vera McNear), Edward McNear, and Benjamin McNear (his wife Lucille McNear); and his sister: Vera Burton (McNear). one brother in law: Allen Bostic Jr. . Claude leaves behind his daughter Jocelyn McNear and her husband Cary Newkirk; his grandchildren: Corey Jeffers (his wife Emma Howes), Lenoni McNear, Karilyn McNear- Newkirk, Diante Laracuente (his wife Denise Laracuente), Jaylin Laracuente, and Marquise Greer; great-grandchildren: Shemar Peterson, Harper Jeffers, Blake Jeffers, Braxton Jeffers, Arianni Laracuente, and Melody Laracuente; sisters-in-law Ulla Bostic and Rose Brown; close relatives Jeanette Coleman, Markus Coleman, and James Coleman, and host of family and friends who will miss him dearly