Kingston, NH: Merritt W. McClear, 79, of Kingston and formerly of Hampstead and Sandown, NH and Tewksbury and Everett, MA, died December 22, 2018, at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Bedford, MA.

He was born, raised and educated in Washington, D.C., son of the late Merritt F. and Nellie M. (Hinkle) McClear. He served in the U.S. Army, from 1956 until 1967 and was a veteran of the Vietnam War, with the rank of Specialist 4 and was a recipient of the Vietnam Service Medal with Two Bronze Stars, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal and National Defense Service Medal. He later served in the Army National Guard from 1981 until 1983 and was a member of the U.S. Navy Reserve from 1984 until 1991.

Mr. McClear was most recently employed at Home Depot in Plaistow, and had previously worked as a mail carrier for the Chelsea and Somerville, MA, Post Office, and also as an Electronics Test and Repair Technician for several years at Sanders Associates in Nashua as well as a Technician at Kurzwell Computer Products and Pencept Inc.

He enjoyed fishing, painting, drawing and working with ceramics. He also enjoyed driving around Northern New England and New Hampshire with family and friends.

He will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by a son Scott J. McClear of Kingston, a daughter Nicole M. McClear and her boyfriend Steve Decilia of North Andover, his former wife and mother of his children, Donna (Starble) (McClear) Cochran, grandchildren, Addison McClear, Cameron McClear and Nayeli Decilia.

Relatives and friends are invited to call on Thursday morning, December 27 from 10:30 a.m. until 12:15 p.m. at Brookside Chapel & Funeral Home, 116 Main St., Plaistow, NH. His funeral service will follow at 12:30 in the funeral home. Burial with military honors will follow in Greenwood Cemetery, Kingston, NH. To send a message of condolence to the family, please visit www.brooksidechapelfh.com