Eleanor M Mccary
May 24, 1924 — October 19, 2022
Eleanor “Ellie” (Lira) Noll McCary, 98, formerly of Adrian, MI, left this earth October 19, 2022, in Yates Center, KS, with her son John, by her side.
Leonora was born in Numa, IA, May 24, 1924, the daughter of Giovanni “John” and Genoveffa “Geneva” (Botton) Lira. She was raised in Numa and graduated from Numa High School. She was very athletic, even being drafted into the first Iowa Girls Basketball Hall of Fame. Winning the Iowa State Championships in 1940 and 1941 was like a “Hoosier” moment for tiny Numa. She also played and coached softball and basketball, was a Girl Scout Troop Leader, bowling captain, competed on golf teams and Senior Olympics.
As an accomplished seamstress, she worked at Kline’s and Mr. David’s in alterations. Known for her cooking she also worked at the Coffeeshop in downtown Adrian.
After raising five teenagers (plus their friends who called her “Ma”), she dedicated herself to volunteering 1,000’s of hours at rest homes, Bixby Hospital, bake sales, costume making for the Croswell Opera House, St. Vincent de Paul for St. Joseph Catholic Church and was on the altar guild and President of Christian Mothers. She was also an election worker and 10-gallon blood donor.
Ellie loved her flower garden on Rogers Rd and being around and baking for kids; especially those at the Springbrook School as a lunchroom helper where they all called her Grandma.
She was able to travel with her brothers to Italy twice, where she spoke all the Italian dialects like a native. Growing up in Numa there were several families from different parts of Italy and Sicily. She also traveled to Holland to visit Mieka, the foreign exchange student the family hosted.
Ellie was a big fan of the Chicago Black Hawks and Cubs. She saw the Cubs practice in Florida with Bill several years. Unfortunately, due to dementia in her later years she didn’t get to fully enjoy the Cub’s World Series win in 2016 for which she had patiently waited since her young adulthood spent in Chicago.
One of the lessons she stressed to her kids was “lies have short legs”. She will be missed.
Left to cherish her memory are her children: Karen and husband, Wally Harder; John and wife, Kathy Noll; Sharon Ionetz and husband Ron DeNova; Linda Zemlo; Chuck and wife, Jackie McCary; 18 grandchildren; and 18+ great-grandchildren who affectionately call her Nona.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband Thomas R Noll; 2nd husband William J. McCary; four brothers: Geldo “G.A.”, Ronnie P. “Romie”, Premo “John”, and Louie Lira; and a step-daughter, Michelle “Mikki” Somers.
Cremation has taken place and a Celebration of Life will be held at a later date at the discretion of the family.
The family requests that memorials be made to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Adrian, MI. Contributions may be sent in care of Koup Family Funeral Home, PO Box 595, Eureka, KS 67045, which is overseeing arrangements. Condolences may be left for the family online at koupfunerals.com.
Leonora was born in Numa, IA, May 24, 1924, the daughter of Giovanni “John” and Genoveffa “Geneva” (Botton) Lira. She was raised in Numa and graduated from Numa High School. She was very athletic, even being drafted into the first Iowa Girls Basketball Hall of Fame. Winning the Iowa State Championships in 1940 and 1941 was like a “Hoosier” moment for tiny Numa. She also played and coached softball and basketball, was a Girl Scout Troop Leader, bowling captain, competed on golf teams and Senior Olympics.
As an accomplished seamstress, she worked at Kline’s and Mr. David’s in alterations. Known for her cooking she also worked at the Coffeeshop in downtown Adrian.
After raising five teenagers (plus their friends who called her “Ma”), she dedicated herself to volunteering 1,000’s of hours at rest homes, Bixby Hospital, bake sales, costume making for the Croswell Opera House, St. Vincent de Paul for St. Joseph Catholic Church and was on the altar guild and President of Christian Mothers. She was also an election worker and 10-gallon blood donor.
Ellie loved her flower garden on Rogers Rd and being around and baking for kids; especially those at the Springbrook School as a lunchroom helper where they all called her Grandma.
She was able to travel with her brothers to Italy twice, where she spoke all the Italian dialects like a native. Growing up in Numa there were several families from different parts of Italy and Sicily. She also traveled to Holland to visit Mieka, the foreign exchange student the family hosted.
Ellie was a big fan of the Chicago Black Hawks and Cubs. She saw the Cubs practice in Florida with Bill several years. Unfortunately, due to dementia in her later years she didn’t get to fully enjoy the Cub’s World Series win in 2016 for which she had patiently waited since her young adulthood spent in Chicago.
One of the lessons she stressed to her kids was “lies have short legs”. She will be missed.
Left to cherish her memory are her children: Karen and husband, Wally Harder; John and wife, Kathy Noll; Sharon Ionetz and husband Ron DeNova; Linda Zemlo; Chuck and wife, Jackie McCary; 18 grandchildren; and 18+ great-grandchildren who affectionately call her Nona.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband Thomas R Noll; 2nd husband William J. McCary; four brothers: Geldo “G.A.”, Ronnie P. “Romie”, Premo “John”, and Louie Lira; and a step-daughter, Michelle “Mikki” Somers.
Cremation has taken place and a Celebration of Life will be held at a later date at the discretion of the family.
The family requests that memorials be made to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Adrian, MI. Contributions may be sent in care of Koup Family Funeral Home, PO Box 595, Eureka, KS 67045, which is overseeing arrangements. Condolences may be left for the family online at koupfunerals.com.
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