Carol "Sissy" Ann McLear

Carol (Sissy) Ann McLear, age 76, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Saturday, May 3, 2025 at St. Joseph Medical Center. She was born on December 20, 1948, in Kansas City, Missouri to Harry and Josephine McLear. She attended St. Therese Little Flower Elementary School and graduated from Bishop Hogan High School. After high school, she began work at Gulf Oil Corporation and then went on to have a successful career at H&R Block for 43½ years, retiring in May 2012. Carol took great pride in her work and cherished the friendships she built over the years with her colleagues.

Carol was a proud and loving twin sister and aunt to the family. She had a gentle heart and an extraordinary gift for understanding animals, especially dogs. She was known by the family as a true “dog whisperer” and she had an uncanny ability to connect with dogs of all breeds and temperament. She loved her time spent with her four-legged companions.

Beyond her love for dogs, Carol found a deep joy in tending to her yard, where she created a beautiful, manicured lawn (it looked like a golf course). You could see her out there on the riding lawnmower mowing the grass or mulching leaves. She had no tolerance for leaves in her yard and would be out there daily gathering up the leaves. Her lawn was a symbol of her pride she put into everything she did.

Growing up, Carol was always interested in sports and was a great softball player in school and on the field at the neighborhood Brooklyn Park. A lifelong fan of the Kansas City Royals, she found such joy in watching the games on TV, cheering the Royals with optimism and pride, win or lose. She was also an avid fan of the KC Chiefs and MU Football. Carol also followed and supported the grandnephews’ baseball, football, soccer and hockey games.

Sissy had a passion for cars – fast cars! At 16, her first car was a Chevelle SS, four-speed. After that she drove a GTO, Trans Am, Camaro, Mustang and Corvette. She loved vehicles particularly the 60’s and 70’s models. But not just cars – she had a 1950, three-window Chevy Coup truck. She took pride in keeping all her vehicles in pristine condition!

Thanksgiving dinner was always special to Carol and we had to be sure and prepare everything like our Mom would, especially the turkey dressing. Sissy enjoyed baking brownies and pies, but was most famous for her three-layer German chocolate cake, which was made from scratch. The cake and frosting had to be “just right”.

Carol was preceded in death by her parents and loving brother and wife, Charles and Kathleen McLear. She is survived by her twin sister JoAnn (Mike) Atkinson, nephews Mike Atkinson and John (Donna) McLear; Nieces Gina (Pat) Springfield, Deborah (Ryan) Smith, and Lisa (Robby) Pawlak. She was a proud and loving great aunt to 11 grandnephews and grandnieces: Tanner and Libby Atkinson; Jackson and Chase Stringfield; Aaron, Kylie and Alexis McLear; Rachel (Davin) Lucassen; Renae (Dalton) Youtsey; and Tara McCormick and Christopher Goss. Additionally, there is one great grandnephew Ryker Lucassen; and three great grandnieces Kaylie Lucassen, and Jensen and Lainey Youtsey.

The family would like to thank Doctors Timothy Smith, Joseph Barry, Gerald Mancuso and Neal Erickson for their incredible care and support; and her dear friend, Kim Graves, for her time, care and emotional support with Carol.

Sissy will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

Visitation will be held Monday, May 12th, 9:30 a.m. at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 11822 Holmes Road, Kansas City, MO 64131, followed by the Rosary, and Mass of Christian Burial beginning at 11:00 a.m. After Mass, there will be a luncheon reception at the church followed by a private burial in Mt. Olivet Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Wayside Waifs Animal Protection, 3901 Truman Road, Kansas City, MO 64137 or online at www.waysidewaifs.org .

Condolences may be left online at www.mcgilleystatelinechapel.com .