June 5, 1943 to June 2, 2026

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Jeanne Marit (Soma) McClard, of Yuba City, CA.

She passed away after a nine year battle with Alzheimer's on June 2, 2026, at Golden Years Residential Care in Yuba City, CA.

Jeanne is survived by her husband, of 58 years, Robert "Bob" McClard; brother, John T. Soma (Pam), of Denver, CO; daughters, Kristin "Kris" McClard (Shaun Cray), of Butte, MT, and Martha "Emma" McClard, of Yuba City, CA; and granddaughters, Adajean "Ellie" or "A.J." Lester, and Isabella McClard.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Ruth Soma, of Glen Ellyn, IL.

Jeanne was born in Fort Knox, KY, and raised in Glen Ellyn, IL. She was a graduate of Glenbard West High School, 1961, MacMurray College in Jacksonville, IL, Bachelor's in Elementary Education in 1965, and the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, IL, Master's in Education in 1966.

After earning her degrees, she moved to Hayward, CA, where she taught elementary school for a year.

In Hayward, she met her husband, Bob, and they married at First Congregational Church in Glen Ellyn, IL, on December 28, 1967.

In 1968, Jeanne and Bob moved to Yuba City, CA, where they both taught for Yuba City Unified School District, Y.C.U.S.D. Jeanne taught at several different elementary schools, and Bob taught at Yuba City High School for 37 years.

In 1976, Jeanne and Bob adopted their first daughter, Kris. Jeanne finished the teaching year and then chose to stay home and be a hands-on mother. Jeanne and Bob adopted their second daughter, Emma, in 1985.

Jeanne returned to teaching in 1998, this time teaching classroom music at various elementary schools in Yuba City Unified School District.

After retiring from Y.C.U.S.D., she continued to teach music for several years at Camptonville Academy and CORE charter school in Marysville, CA.

She retired in 2018, soon after her Alzheimer's diagnosis. Many of her former students will forever remember her fondly as "The Earmuff Lady" as she was known to wear earmuffs during colder weather.

Jeanne joined P.E.O. in 1964, and was an active sister for over 60 years, belonging to various chapters over the course of her life.

She was initiated into Chapter AU, Illinois, where her mother was active. After moving to Yuba City, CA, she was first a member of Chapter HA, then LS, and finally was a charter member of VU.

Her daughter, Emma, is also a member of Chapter VU, while daughter, Kris, and granddaughter, A.J. are member of Chapter G, Butte, MT.

A devout Christian, Jeanne was an active member of several churched over the course of her life.

She was baptized at Perry Lutheran Church in Daleyville, WI, and attended First Congregational Church in Glen Ellyn, IL, with her parents.

Then, when she moved to Yuba City, CA, she and Bob were members of First Presbyterian Church in Marysville, CA, and later attended St. Andrew Presbyterian Church and First Baptist Church in Yuba City, CA.

Jeanne was easily recognizable for the hats she wore to church on Sunday mornings.

Jeanne was very active in the community. In addition to her Church and P.E.O. activities, she also helped start Sutter Buttes Days as a founding member of the Save the Sutter Buttes Association.

She loved music. She taught piano lessons at home for many years, and also played piano and organ for church services, as well as singing in Handel's "Messiah" with the Yuba-Sutter Oratorio Society.

Jeanne loved to bake. Her famous cookies, pies, and chocolate truffles were enjoyed by hundreds, from family and friends to the mail carriers, garbage collectors, and office staff wherever she went.

A memorial service will be held at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church in Yuba City, CA, on June 25, 2026, at 10 AM. The family requests that attendees wear hats to honor Jeanne.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to P.E.O. Chapter VU, St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, Legacy baptist Church, the Yuba-Sutter Oratorio Society, Middle Mountain Foundation, or the Alzheimer's Association.