Cleao Fern Connell, 96, of North Platte, Nebraska, formerly of Tryon, Nebraska passed away November 14, 2023 at Linden Court in North Platte. She was born March 21, 1927 to Walter Henry and Laura Mae (Worden) Avery at home in rural McPherson County.
She grew up in the Sandhills in McPherson County and graduated from McPherson County High School with the class of 1945. Cleao worked for various families in McPherson County as a hired girl and one of her favorite memories of that time was helping when new babies came and she would help the doctor with the new babies and give them their first bath. She, along with a sister, moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming where she worked as a nanny. She returned to McPherson County, where she again worked for community families as a hired girl, caring for the children and helping out in the home. Care-giving was in her nature and she helped to care for her sister, Lucille, who was suffering from a brain tumor. Cleao was united in marriage to Lloyd Connell on July 20, 1952 at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church in North Platte. Lloyd and Cleao faithfully attended Gospel Ridge Sunday School, and later the United Methodist Church in Tryon. The couple lived on the Connell homestead north of Tryon, where they ranched and raised cattle and sheep. Cleao loved the ranch life and preferred to be outside, tending the livestock, working in the hayfield and the yard and garden more than most anything else. She worked side by side with Lloyd for over 60 years. She always had chickens and for many years had a little sheep herd. They continued to live at the homestead until 1999, when they “retired” and moved into Tryon. Cleao and Lloyd carried mail in the late 70’s and continued this for 30 years. Cleao really enjoyed the mail route and drove over 80 miles a day over Sandhills roads. She was committed at anything she did and the mail route was no exception, often shoveling snow to make it around the route. She was always willing to lend a helping hand and over the years she babysat for teachers and neighbors. Cleao loved babies, and especially the grandbabies. All of the grandchildren loved staying at Grandpa and Grandma’s and she enjoyed having them. Cleao enjoyed handwork and was a talented seamstress. She loved to crochet and taught herself to knit in her 60’s. Her family was the blessed recipients of much of her handwork, and crocheted afghans, tablecloths, quilts and stuffed animals were wonderful gifts. Although cooking was not her favorite thing to do, she was an excellent cook and could put a meal on the table for a crowd often with very little notice. Cleao was incredibly spunky and spry.
Survivors include her 2 daughters, Ruth (Ken) Gage, North Platte, Nebraska, Sharlene (Blaine) Rodewald, Maxwell, Nebraska; 7 grandchildren, Rodney (Wendi) Gage, Lincoln, Nebraska, Pamela (Shane) Harlin, North Platte, Nebraska, Shannon (Michael) Dickman, Gambrills, Maryland, Anthony (Jennifer) Rodewald, McCook, Nebraska, Jerome (Bernice) Gage, Tucson, Arizona, Leland (Jenny) Rodewald, Holdredge, Nebraska, Andrew (Ashley) Rodewald, Sidney, Nebraska; great-grandchildren, Nichole, Misty, Dylan (Megan), Jessie, Elisabeth, Emily, Graydon, ElsiAnna, Kailynn, Erin, Samantha, Lyndon, Blake, Brom, Graeme, Laike, Rook, Alexandria; great-grandchildren, Gabriel, Ivan, Joseph, Alvina, Oliver; sisters, Helen Brooks, Cozad, Nebraska, Lila Brooks, Cozad, Nebraska, Gloria Marlin, Gothenburg, Nebraska, Wanda, Connell, Kenesaw, Nebraska, Twyla (Dean) Connelly, Brady, Nebraska; along with numerous other family members and friends.
Cleao is preceded in death by her parents, husband Lloyd, great-great granddaughter, Gretchen; brother, Malcom (Vivian) Avery; sisters, Dorothy (Wilfred) Lanham, Lucille (Lonnie) Smith.
Memorials are suggested to the McPherson County Alumni Scholarship Fund.