Martha’s Vineyard, January 27, 2009 James H. age 81 passed away at Windemere Nursing Home, where he had been a resident since June of 2008. Preceded in death by his wife Joanne, parents James and Jenny Cleary and sister Jean Briggs. Mr. Cleary is survived by his children and their spouses Janice and Richard Bowles, James H.H. Jr. amd Maryellen; Joseph; Jeffrey and Noreen; Jeri Dube and Ray Rochon, eleven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Known to his friends as Jim he enjoyed a full life. He was a lifelong summer resident of Oak Bluffs on Martha’s Vineyard. He and Joanne honeymooned on the island and longed to live there full time. It was on January 27, 1972 when Jim was able to make that a reality. He took a job at the Vineyard Haved post office and moved his family to the island. Worklife included twenty years in the post office, often supplemented with part-time jobs bartending at the Moonbeam, Edmunds, the Dunes, and annual stints at the local dog tracks. Jim served in the Navy during WWII and was stationed as a prison guard at a camp on the island of Saipan. He was a lifetime member of the VFW and served as commander at Post 9261 on Martha’s Vineyard. Upon retirement Jim and Joanne became snowbirds summering on the Vineyard and winters in Bonita Springs, FL. They enjoyed warm weather of FL. and the wonderful new friends that they made. Flags were flown at half-mast at all island post offices on Wedsnesday January 28th in memory of Jim. Funeral mass on Martha’s Vineyard will be held Saturday January 31, 2009 at 11am. at Our Lady Star of the Sea church in Oak Bluffs with reception following at the VFW. Funeral from the O’Keefe-Wade Funeral Home, 70 Washington St. in Taunton on Monday February 2nd at 10am. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Andrew formerly St. Paul’s Church at 11am. Visiting hours will be held on Sunday from 2-5pm. Interment in St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Taunton.