Margaret Jean (Benson) Maclary

Margaret “Jean” Maclary, age 88, passed away peacefully on October 1, 2018 after a brief illness surrounded by her loving family.

In her early years she and her sister Helen could be seen riding their horses “Cap & Billy” around the Oak Grove and Elsmere area. Her love of horses would continue throughout her life from her and her future husband Bob having dates in a one-horse open sleigh and later in life when they got involved in thoroughbred racing in the early 1970’s.

Jean graduated from Alexis I DuPont High School, class of 1947 where she was a cheerleader.

She met her husband Bob at a dance at Conrad High School where Bob was a student. They married May 6, 1950 after his honorable discharge from the U.S. Navy. During their 65 years of marriage, she and Bob enjoyed many years of Shrine events not just locally, but traveling to events all over the United States. She was a 65-year member of Red Clay Creek Presbyterian Church.

Jean was a kind, compassionate woman with a loving heart and an ear for listening to others. She was a wonderful cook who loved to prepare the family dinners and entertain during the holidays. She was also known to enjoy a good Cosmopolitan.

She was preceded in death by her parents Farrell and Grace Benson, the love of her life, Bob, and their daughter Leanne.

She is survived by her sister, Helen Douglass; daughter, Cheryl Woodward (Charles F. Woodward III); granddaughter, Melissa Davis; grandson, Charles F. Woodward IV (Jessica); and great-grandchildren Caleb and Audrey.

Family and friends are invited to visit from 5:00 – 7:00pm on Thursday, October 4, 2018 at the Doherty Funeral Home, 3200 Limestone Road, Wilmington, DE 19808, where a funeral service will be held on Friday, October 5, 2018 at 10:00am. Interment will follow in Red Clay Creek Presbyterian Church Cemetery.

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