The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

Dolores Marie Cleaver, 92, of Orange, Texas, passed away on October 26, 2022, at her home. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, November 2, 2022, at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange.

Officiating will be Reverend Joshua Sharp. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens in Orange, Texas.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 1, 2022, at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange.

Born in Houston, Texas, ‘Fifth Generation Texan’ on December 22, 1929, she was the daughter of William Owen Kelley and Anna Mae (Cline) Kelly. Dolores graduated from Tri-State School of Nursing /Centenary College, Shreveport, Louisiana as a Registered Nurse in 1950. She began her life’s calling at Tri-State Hospital in Shreveport, working for Dr Willis; now known as ‘Willis-Knighton Memorial Hospital.’ She began her nursing career in Texas working as an RN at the new Orange Memorial Hospital (1956) retiring (June 1995) from Baptist Hospital-Orange as Surgical / Services Director.

Dolores was a woman of great faith and was very Christ Centered. She enjoyed singing in the choir, taught Pre-K Sunday school for over 30 years, and was a founding member of Trinity Baptist Church and her cherished Joy Sunday School Class.

Dolores was a member of the Golden K where she served as secretary and was awarded the C. T. Bush Presidential Award, President of the Aggie Moms Club of Orange, and a member of the Association of Operating Room Nurses (AORN), and the Daughters of the Republic of Texas (DRT).

She is preceded in death by her parents, William Owen (W.O.) Kelly and Anna Mae (Cline); her husband, Patrick Henry Cleaver; and in-laws, Daisy Doris (Camp) and Henry Newton Cleaver.

She is survived by her beloved sons, William “Bill” Henry Cleaver and wife Therese of Acworth, Georgia, Mark Eugene Cleaver of Wimberly, Texas, Patrick Alan Cleaver and wife Sharla of Waxahachie, Texas, and Jay Todd Lafayette Cleaver of Orange, Texas; her eight grandchildren, Jennifer Ostell and husband Wes of Acworth, Georgia, Jessica Wine and husband Josh of Spanish Fort, Alabama, Kerrie Carroll and husband George of Savannah, Georgia, Matthew Cleaver and wife Allison of Austin, Texas, Sarah Lauren Cleaver of Wimberly, Texas, Shawna Cunningham and husband Derrick of Ennis, Texas, Justin Cleaver of Waxahachie, Texas, and Godfrey Alexander Cleaver of Orange, Texas; her ten great-grandchildren, Jackson Ostell, Benjamin Ostell, Maryellyn Ostell, Norah Wine, Patrick Owen Wine, aka POW, Emma Carroll, Kate Carroll, Molly Cleaver, Rayleigh Cunningham, and Colby Cunningham; her sister, Betty Griffin of College Station, Texas; her nieces, Sara Ruth Blier of Wheatland, Wyoming, Kelly Janine Griffin of College Station, Texas, and Anna Marie Rivera of Palmyra, New Jersey; as well as additional loving grand nieces, nephews and cousins, family and friends.

Serving as pallbearers will be James Brown, Brian Petricka, Matt Cleaver, Justin Cleaver, Derrick Cunningham, and Joshua Wine.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Trinity Baptist Church at 1819 N 16th St. Orange, Texas, 77630.