Obituary of Fred Cleaver Jr.

On Friday, June 28, 2024 Fred Cleaver Jr. of Syracuse, at 81 years of age, went to his final resting place. He was born December 14, 1942 in Oneida N.Y. He was predeceased by his parents Fred G. Cleaver Sr. and Helen A. Cleaver.

Fred and his family moved to The Valley in Syracuse, NY in 1958. He graduated in 1962 from Onondaga Valley Academy. Fred attended the Collage of Hard Knocks where he earned many degrees in business, sales, carpentry, plumbing and electrical. He says he was a jack of all trades and master of none. He was a workaholic and when the doctors told him in January of 2023 he couldn't work, it was the biggest challenge he ever faced.

As a worker, Fred always worked 2 and 3 jobs. His first employment opportunity in Syracuse was delivering The Herald Journal, where he learned to be a salesman and even won several sales contests. He was a clerk at Wrights Drug Store. Then the old Flying A gas station which is now Bob's True Value. From these small part-time jobs, he moved to bigger and better jobs. Fred worked for Hathaway Bakeries selling bakery products house to house. From Hathaway Bakeries he went to work for Syracuse Coca Cola Bottling Co. Then on to Sears Roebuck. After Sears, he went to Crouse Irving Memorial Hospital where he retired as a carpenter in 2008. Soon after retirement Fred started a second career as a parts delivery driver for Advance Auto Parts, retiring at the age of Eighty. Not only did he have one full-time job, he held several part-time jobs. Fred always provided for his family. He is proud to say he never drew a unemployment check in his life.

In 1963 he met his wife Hazel Loraine Hotaling from Marcellus, NY, and they married on March 21, 1964. Freds family include his wife Hazel (A SAINT) (What a salesman he was to win her heart and to put up with Fred for 60 plus years.) Fred had four children, he was predeceased by his oldest son, Timothy. Surviving are his children Terri Busby, Cindy (Michael), and Fred Cleaver III; six grandchildren Lauren (Derrick), Katie, Ondina, Julia (Nate), TJ (Aryanna), and Charlie; four great-granddaughters Elizabella, Solana, Rosalie and Charlotte. Fred is also survived by his siblings Ed Cleaver (Linda), Doris Monica (Tom), and his sister-in-law Sharon Cleaver. He was predeceased by his brother Bobby. Also surviving are several cousins, sisters and brothers in-law, and many friends.

Calling hours will be Wednesday, July 3 from 3 pm to 5:45 pm, followed by a funeral service at 6pm, both held at Ryan Funeral Home, 44 E. Main Street, Marcellus.  Burial will be at Onondaga Valley Cemetery, Syracuse on Friday, July 5 at 11 am.

Fred enjoyed meeting people and was able to start conversations with anyone. He also was a prankster and liked to tell jokes especially to waitresses and nurses.

Fred and Hazel enjoyed long drives and finding unique restaurants to stop at for lunch and dinner.

Fred loved going up to the old homestead (the farm in Boonville, NY) where the family got together yearly for 2 weeks vacation. It was at the farm he enjoyed the grandchildren to the fullest. They would ride the ATV'S on trails that he had groomed. Fred enjoyed hunting and fishing and riding inter-tubes down the Black River. He loved sitting in the tree stands for hours at a time. Fred could tell you how many deer would come out to feed, what time and which way they would be traveling. He enjoyed mother nature.

Fred was a member of the Liverpool Methodist Church. He was also president of the C.R.S. (Can't Remember Shit) club for several years.

Fred would like to thank his parents for giving him life and telling him that hard work wouldn't kill me.

Fred would like to thank Dr. Tripodi, Dr. Battaglia and all his other doctors for extending his life span. He said that he had the greatest Doctors, including the staff at Crouse Hospital they are simply the best.

To all of Freds friends, he hopes this obituary brought a smile to your face and a tear to your eye. (The old fart's gone, now you all can breathe easier.)

Now for contribution… Give, Give, Give till it hurts, to the Cardiology Department at Crouse Hospital. That is not enough… Please dig a little deeper, you know you can do better.

CROUSE HOSPITAL IS SIMPLY THE BEST..!

Fred requested donations be made in his name, Frederick Cleaver Jr. to Crouse Health’s Miron Cardiac Care Center.  Donations can be made online https://www.crouse.org/give/donatenow/ or mail to: Crouse Health Foundation, 736 Irving Ave., Syracuse, NY  13210.