Jonathan Blake McCleney

Jonathan Blake McCleney

Fearless, passionate and unafraid of the truth—while also being a devoted father, brother, son, grandson, cousin and friend for life—Jonathan McCleney met his Lord on Sunday, March 26, 2017, as a result of a motorcycle accident. At the time of his death, Jonathan was a few weeks shy of his 39th birthday.
Born in Bryan on April 12, 1978, Jonathan was also raised here. His parents—Billy Joe McCleney and Rhonda Fae Gustavus Hernandez, a retired engineer and a retired nurse, respectively—also celebrated his “Gotcha Day” on April 16, 1978, thankful for the miracle of adoption which blessed them with their sweet son. Jonathan’s siblings include Casey Labat (husband Chad, of Houma, LA), Jessica Parker (husband John Paul, of Mertzon, TX), Kensie Yarbrough (husband Steven, of Mertzon, TX) and Jennifer Spencer (husband Nick, of Palestine, TX). As a boy, Jonathan enjoyed soccer but mostly picked flowers while playing outfield on his Little League team. Close with his cousins, Jonathan later spent countless hours with them as they skateboarded and roller skated together. With his teasing nature and easy grin, Jonathan lit up every room he entered and wasn’t shy about talking to girls. He graduated from Bryan High School before moving on to the oil field, where he worked in rig transportation.
Outspoken and honest, Jonathan loved to “pull ears and pop toes” when joking with friends and family. But those close to him understood that if Jonathan wasn’t teasing you, then he didn’t like you anyway—he never feared telling the truth. Indeed, when he handed his mother his high school diploma, she handed back to him information surrounding the circumstances of his birth and adoption. After finding the “angel that provided a baby for a couple that could not have one,” Jonathan became lifelong friends with his biological mother, Lizette Mase. In turn, Jonathan himself was lucky enough to find love three times—with Katie Scott, Natalie Collins and Nikki Cain—and became the father of four beloved children: Colton Blake McCleney (of Fritch, TX), Grace Elaine McCleney (of Iola, TX), Haley Marie McCleney (of Bryan) and Madison Hope McCleney (of College Station).
Although he was a free spirit, Jonathan was also a believer and a member of Hillcrest Baptist Church in Bryan. Like most tough guys and self-professed “black sheep of the family,” he was shy about others seeing his soft heart, but those who cherished him never failed to recognize it. With them, Jonathan shared life’s simple pleasures: good company, banana pudding, chocolate-peanut-butter-oatmeal-no-bake cookies and Mexican food, especially tamales. Jonathan always looked forward to family gatherings and the comfort food around which they revolved, inquiring of the folks he loved, “What you bringing?” He was also an active hunter and Harley Davidson enthusiast who loved road tripping, especially to see his extended family members. Wherever Jonathan traveled, he brought life and light into the lives of those whom he met at each destination.
Jonathan is dearly missed and fondly remembered now by his four children—Colton Blake, Grace Elaine,Haley Marie and Madison Hope—in addition to his parents, Billy Joe McCleney (wife Bonnie Fuchs) and Rhonda Hernandez (husband Ben Hernandez), as well as his birthmother, Lizette Mase (husband Tom) and his grandfather, Glynn Owen. His cherished cousins (who were more like siblings to him) also miss Jonathan, including Jaime Rickerson, Patrick Montoya, Josh Clement, Katie Clement, Melissa Montoya, Tyler Gustavus and Crystal Gustavus. He is likewise mourned by his aunts, uncles, extended family members and a close network of friends. He was predeceased by his grandparents (Homer McCleney, Estelle McCleney, Lester Gustavus and Mary Jane Owen).
Join us in celebrating the life of Jonathan Blake McCleney, beginning with Visitation from 5-7:30pm on Thursday, March 30, 2017, at Hillier Funeral Home in Bryan. Funeral services will then be held at 11am on the following day—Friday, March 31st—at Hillcrest Baptist Church, with interment at Rest-Ever Memorial Cemetery in Bryan.