Beverly Cleary, Children's Author of 'Ramona' Books and 'The Mouse and the Motorcycle,' Dies at 104

Author Beverly Cleary circa 1955/Cleary Family archive/OPB/Public Domain

Beverly Cleary, the beloved children’s book author of the “Ramona” series and “The Mouse and the Motorcycle,” has died. She was 104.

Yes, 104. Cleary’s first book, “Henry Huggins,” was published more than 70 years ago, way back in 1950.

Cleary died Thursday in Carmel, California, where she’d lived since the 1960s, according to her publisher HarperCollins. Cleary was born Beverly Bunn on April 12, 1916, in McMinnville, Oregon.

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Cleary spent her early years on the family farm in Yamhill, Oregon. There, her mom set up a library for the town. Young Beverly’s love of books was born in that lodge room above a bank. That didn’t mean she was instantly a great writer. Cleary wasn’t even a good reader.

When her family moved to Portland, Cleary was placed in the local grammar school’s circle for struggling readers. That experience informed her future writing.

Cleary would go on to publish more than 40 books, selling more than 85 million copies. She’s won what feels like as many awards.

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Cleary won a Newbery Honor in 1978 for “Ramona and Her Father” and another in 1982 for “Ramona Quimby, Age 8.” In 1984, she received the John Newbery Medal for “Dear Mr. Henshaw.”

She has also been honored with the American Library Association’s 1975 Laura Ingalls Wilder Award, the Catholic Library Association’s 1980 Regina Medal, and the University of Southern Mississippi’s 1982 Silver Medallion. In 1984, Cleary was the United States author nominee for the international Hans Christian Andersen Award. In 2000, to honor her contributions to children’s literature, Beverly Cleary was named a “Living Legend” by the Library of Congress.

We could go on, but even the internet only has so much room.

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Cleary’s “Ramona” novels were adapted into the 2010 live-action children’s movie “Ramona and Beezus,” which starred Joey King and Selena Gomez in the title roles. While the title comes from Cleary’s first book in the series, “Beezus and Ramona,” it follows the story told in the sequels, “Ramona Forever” and “Ramona’s World.”

The Fox 2000 Pictures-produced movie grossed $27 million.

“We are saddened by the passing of Beverly Cleary, one of the most beloved children’s authors of all time. Looking back, she’d often say, ‘I’ve had a lucky life,’ and generations of children count themselves lucky too–lucky to have the very real characters Beverly Cleary created, including Henry Huggins, Ramona and Beezus Quimby, and Ralph S. Mouse, as true friends who helped shape their growing-up years,” Suzanne Murphy, president and publisher of HarperCollins Children’s Books, said in a statement. “We at HarperCollins also feel extremely lucky to have worked with Beverly Cleary and to have enjoyed her sparkling wit. Her timeless books are an affirmation of her everlasting connection to the pleasures, challenges, and triumphs that are part of every childhood.”

Hollywood's Notable Deaths of 2021 (Photos)

A look at all the stars in movies, TV, music, sports and media we've lost this year
Mike Fenton • The "E.T." and "Back to the Future" casting director died Jan. 1. He was 85 years old.
Joan Micklin Silver • The director best known for the films "Hester Street" and "Crossing Delancey" died Jan. 1 due to vascular dementia. She was 85.
Gerry Marsden • Gerry Marsden, lead singer of the British pop band Gerry and the Pacemakers, died Jan. 3 after an infection of the heart. He was 78.
Kerry Vincent • "Food Network Challenge" judge and cake designing expert Kerry Vincent passed away Jan. 4. She was 75 years old.
Barbara Shelley • "Dr. Who" actress and "Queen of Hammer" horror film star Barbara Shelley died Jan. 4. She was 88.
Tanya Roberts • Former Bond Girl and star of "A View to Kill," "Charlie's Angels" and "That 70s Show," Tanya Roberts, was confirmed dead Jan. 5 after initial erroneous reports that she had passed away and then was still alive. Roberts died of a urinary tract infection that spread to other organs. She was 65 years old.
Eric Jerome Dickey • Renowned author Eric Jerome Dickey, whose 29 works included "Sister, Sister," died Jan. 5 after a battle with cancer. He was 59.
Neil Sheehan • Acclaimed journalist, Pentagon Papers leaker and Pulitzer Prize winner Neil Sheehan died Jan. 7 from complications of Parkinson's Disease. He was 84.
Marion Ramsey • Marion Ramsey, best known for playing soft-spoken Officer Laverne Hooks in the "Police Academy" franchise, died on Jan. 7 in her Los Angeles home.
Dearon " Deezer D" Thompson • Actor and rapper Deezer D died Jan. 8 at his home in Los Angeles. The former "ER" star was 55.
Tommy Lasorda • Tommy Lasorda, who spent 71 seasons playing with and managing the Los Angeles Dodgers, died Jan. 8. He was 93.
Dave Creek • Lead character designer who'd worked on FOX's "Bob's Burgers" show since it debuted in 2011, died Jan. 8 after a skydiving accident. He was 42.
Photo: Dave Creek/Instagram
Michael Apted • Michael Apted, director of documentary films including "Up" and "The Coal Miner's Daughter," died Jan. 8. He was 79.
John Reilly • "General Hospital" star and " Beverly Hills 90210" actor John Reilly died Jan. 10. He was 84 years old.
Marsha Zazula • Marsha Zazula, co-founder of Megaforce Records, the record label that launched Metallica's debut album and career, died Jan. 10. She was 68.
Stacy Title • Stacy Title, director of films including "Let the Devil Wear Black," "The Last Supper" and "The Bye Bye Man," died Jan. 11 after a battle with ALS. She was 56.
Sheldon Adelson • GOP financier and casino mogul Sheldon Adelson died Jan. 12. He was 87.
Jessica Campbell • "Freaks and Geeks" and "Election" actress Jessica Campbell passed away unexpectedly Dec. 29, but her family announced her death Jan. 13. She was 38.
Siegfried Fischbacher •

The other half of legendary Las Vegas magic and animal act Siegfried & Roy died on Jan. 13 of pancreatic cancer, according to the Washington Post. He was 81.

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Angie Jakusz • Cassandra Anne “Angie” Jakusz, a former contestant on “Survivor: Palau," who earned the nickname "No Fun Angie," died on Jan. 8 after battling cancer. She was 40.
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Joanne Rogers • Acclaimed pianist and the widow of Fred Rogers, better known as beloved children’s TV host Mister Rogers, died on Jan. 14. She was 92.
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Peter Mark Richman • The actor who appeared on numerous series, including “Beverly Hills, 90210” and “Dynasty,” died on Jan. 14 at the age of 93.
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Sylvain Sylvain • The guitarist and founding member of the pioneering rock group New York Dolls died on Jan. 13 following a battle with cancer. He was 69.
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Philip J. Smith • The Tony Award winner, who led Broadway’s Shubert Organization for decades, died on Jan. 15 at age 89. His cause of death was complications from COVID-19, according to his daughters Linda Phillips and Jennifer Stein.
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Phil Spector • Music producer and convicted murderer Phil Spector died of natural causes in a prison hospital in Stockton, Ca. Jan. 17. He was 81.
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David Richardson • Television writer David Richardson, who wrote on "The Simpsons" and "Two and a Half Men" died Jan. 18. He was 65.
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Don Sutton • Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher and former Los Angeles Dodger Don Sutton died Jan. 19 from natural causes. He was 75.
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Mira Furlan • Actress Mira Furlan, who starred on "Bablyon 5" and "Lost," died Jan. 22 of complications from West Nile Virus. She was 65.
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Hank Aaron • Baseball's former home run king and Hall of Famer Hank Aaron died on Jan. 22. He was 86.
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Bob Avian • Tony Award-winning choreographer Bob Avian died of cardiac arrest on Jan. 22. Avian worked on productions of including "Dreamgirls," A Chorus Line," and "Miss Saigon." He was 83.
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Gregory Sierra • Actor Gregory Sierra's death was reported on Jan. 22, and a family spokesperson said Sierra died earlier in the month after a battle with cancer. The "Barney Miller" and "Sanford and Son" actor was 83.
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Larry King • Legendary interviewer and newsman Larry King died on Jan. 23 after contracting COVID-19. King was 87.
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Walter Bernstein • Oscar-nominated screenwriter Walter Bernstein, best known for his work "The Font," died Jan. 23. He was 101 years old.
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Perry Botkin Jr. • Composer Perry Botkin Jr., who created the theme for the soap opera "The Young and the Restless," died Jan. 23. He was 87.
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Bruce Kirby • Character actor Bruce Kirby, who starred in acclaimed films including "The Godfather" and "Crash," died Jan. 26. He was 95 years old.
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Sekou Smith • Award-winning NBA writer and NBA TV correspondent Sekou Smith passed away Jan. 26. He was 48 years old.
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Cloris Leachman • "Young Frankenstein" and "Phyllis" star Cloris Leachman died of natural causes in her sleep Jan. 27. She was 94.
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Sonny Fox • Sonny Fox, former host of the 1950s children's show "Wonderama," died of COVID-19 complications Jan. 28. He was 95.
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Cicely Tyson • Actress Cicely Tyson, whose career on stage and screen spanned over 60 years, died Jan. 28. She was 96.
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Duke Bootee • Rapper and educator Duke Bootee (real name Edward Gernel Feltcher), died at his home in Georgia Jan. 29 from heart failure. He was 69.
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Hilton Valentine • The founding member of the band The Animals died on Jan. 29 at age 77. He helped bring the band to stardom with the hit "House of the Rising Sun."
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Sophie Xeon • The Grammy-nominated musician, producer, and DJ died Jan. 30 at age 34 after an accidental fall in Greece.
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Allan Burns • Burns co-created the hit television series "The Munsters" and "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and created animations for cartoon classics like "Rocky and Bullwinkle" and "Dudley Do-Right." He died on Jan. 31 at age 85.
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Marc Wilmore • The brother of Larry Wilmore and a writer "F is for Family," "In Living Color," and "The Simpsons" died Jan. 31 at age 57 of complications from COVID.
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Jamie Tarses • Tarses, the former ABC president who made history as the first woman to run a broadcast television network from 1996 to 1999, died Feb. 1 at age 56 after suffering complications from a cardiac event last fall.
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Dustin Diamond • The former child star, best known for his iconic role as Samuel "Screech" Powers on the sitcom "Saved By The Bell" died Feb. 1 at age 44 from cancer.
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Ricky Powell • Hip-hop and street photographer, and honorary "fourth Beastie Boy" Ricky Powell died Feb. 1. He was 59.
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Hal Holbrook • Emmy and Tony Award-winning actor Hal Holbrook, best known for playing Deep Throat in "All the President's Men," died Feb. 1. He was 95 years old.
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Jack Palladino • Private detective Jack Palladino, who worked for clients including Bill Clinton, R. Kelly and Harvey Weinstein, died in an attack in the Haight-Ashbury district of San Francisco Feb. 2. He was 76 .
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Christopher Plummer • "Sound of Music" and "Beginnings" star Christopher Plummer died after falling and suffering a blow to the head Feb. 5. He was 91.
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Leon Spinks Jr. • Olympic gold medalist boxer Leon Spinks Jr. died Feb. 6 after a battle with multiple cancers. He was 67.
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George Shultz • The former Secretary of State to Ronald Reagan died Feb. 7. He was 100 years old.
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Pedro Gomez • Longtime ESPN reporter Pedro Gomez died Feb. 7. He was 58.
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Billy Brown • The patriarch of the Brown family which starred on the Discovery show "Alaskan Bush People" died Feb. 8 after a seizure. He was 68.
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Jean-Claude Carriere • Screenwriter Jean-Claude Carriere, known for his films including "Belle de Jour" and an adaptation of Milan Kundera's novel "The Unbearable Lightness of Being," died Feb. 8. He was 89.
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Mary Wilson • Singer Mary Wilson, who co-founded the Supremes in 1961, died Feb. 9. She was 76.
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Marty Schottenheimer • Schottenheimer -- who coached the Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers, Cleveland Browns and Washington teams -- died of complications from Alzheimer's Feb. 9. He was 77.
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Larry Flynt • Hustler Magazine founder and publisher Larry Flynt died Feb. 10. He was 78.
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Katherine Creag • NBC News reporter Katherine Creag died suddenly Feb. 11. She was 47.
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Chick Corea • 23-time Grammy Award-winning Jazz pianist and composer Chick Corea died of cancer Feb. 11. He was 79.
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Brayden Smith • Five-time "Jeopardy" champion Brayden smith died unexpectedly Feb. 5. He was 24.
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Lynn Stalmaster • Casting director Lynn Stalmaster, who cast more than 400 films and TV shows and was the first casting director to receive an Academy Award, died Feb. 12. He was 93 years old.
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Johnny Pacheco • Dominican Salsa music bandleader and co-founder of Fania Records Johnny Pacheco, died Feb. 15. He was 85.
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Rush Limbaugh • Conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh, whose self-titled show ran for over 30 years on 600 radio stations, died Feb. 17 of advanced lung cancer. He was 70.
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Harry Bring • Television producer Harry Bring, whose notable shows include "Criminal Minds," "X-Files" and "Army Wives," died Feb. 18. He was 77.
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Prince Markie Dee • Music producer, rapper and actor Mark Morales -- better known as Prince Markie Dee -- died Feb. 18. The Fat Boys' co-founder was 52 years old.
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Martha Ruth Stewart • Actress and singer Martha Ruth Stewart, who starred with Humphrey Bogart in "In a Lonely Place," died Feb. 22. She was 98 years old.
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Lawrence Ferlinghetti • Author and publisher Lawrence Ferlinghetti, who owned San Francisco's City Light Books and once stood trial for publishing Allen Ginsberg's beat poetry epic "Howl," died Feb. 23. He was 101 years old.
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Peter S. Davis • Producer Peter S. Davis, who worked on the "Highlander" series, died Feb. 23. He was 79.
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Alan Robert Murray • Sound editor Alan Robert Murray, who won Oscars for his work on "American Sniper" and "Joker," died Feb. 25. He was 66 years old.
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Fred Segal • L.A. fashion icon Fred Segal, whose retail store in West Hollywood has been a city mainstay since 1961, died Feb. 26 after suffering a stroke. He was 87 years old.
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Irv Cross • Former NFL player and CBS Sports commentator Irv Cross died Feb. 28. Cross was a broadcaster for 23 years and was 81 when he died.
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Vernon Jordan • Jordan, a civil rights activist and advisor to former president Bill Clinton, died March 2. He was 85.
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Jahmil French • Actor Jahmil French, who starred in "Degrassi: The Next Generation" and "Soundtrack," died March 2. He was 29.
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Geoffrey Scott • "Dynasty" and "Dark Shadows" actor Geoffrey Scott died March 3 of complications from Parkinson's disease. He was 79.
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Josh Humiston • Humiston, a partner at the Agency for Performing Arts, died of a sudden stroke March 4. He was 48.
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Lance Waldroup • Walrdoup, one of the stars of Discovery Channel's "Moonshiners" show, died unexpectedly March 4. He was 30 years old.
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Michael Wolf Snyder • The 35-year-old sound director, best known for his work on "Nomadland," died by suicide March 1.
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Tony Hendra • The British satirist and star of "This Is Spinal Tap" died on March 5 at age 79 from Lou Gehrig's disease.
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Michael Stanley • The Cleveland-based singer and radio personality died on March 6 at age 72. Stanley died in his sleep after losing a battle with lung cancer.

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Mark Wilson • The '60's tv magician best known for the series "Magic Land of Allakazam" died March 8. He was 91.
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Leon Gast • Director Leon Gast, who worked on the Oscar-winning documentary "When We Were Kings," died March 8 following a long illness. He was 85.
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Norton Juster • Author Norton Juster, who wrote acclaimed novels such as "The Phantom Tollbooth" and "The Dot and Line," died March 9. He was 91 years old.
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Roger Mudd • The longtime CBS and NBC News correspondent died March 9 at age 93. Mudd died due to complications from kidney failure.
Cliff Simon • The actor best known for playing Ba'al on "Stargate SG-1" died March 11 at age 58 in an accident while kitesurfing.
'Marvelous' Marvin Hagler • The boxing legend died March 13 at age 66. A cause of death was not immediately known.
James Levine • The longtime Metropolitan Opera conductor died March 17 at age 77. The famed conductor led more than 2,500 performances.
Jeffery M. Hayes • Hayes, a veteran TV producer who oversaw productions of "MacGyver" and "Star Trek: The Next Generation" died March 9 at age 68 at his home in Los Angeles. His illness was not related to COVID.
Elgin Baylor • The legendary Los Angeles Lakers star and former general manager for the Los Angeles Clippers died March 22 at age 86 of natural causes.
Katherine Diaz • Diaz, a 22-year-old Olympic hopeful, was struck by lightning in a freak accident and died March 22 at age 22.
Ronee Sass • Sass, a veteran publicist working for Warner Bros., died March 23 after a lengthy battle with leukemia. She was 72 years old.
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George Segal • "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf" actor George Segal died March 23 after complications from a bypass surgery. He was 87 years old.
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Houston Tumlin • "Talladega Nights" actor Houston Tumlin died by suicide March 24. He was 28 years old.
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Bertrand Tavernier • French director, screenwriter and film critic Bertrand Tavernier, known for films including "'Round Midnight" and "A Sunday in the Country," died March 25. He was 79.
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Richard Gilliland • The veteran character actor known for his work "Designing Women" and "Airplane II: The Sequel" died March 25 at the age of 71.
Jessica Walter • Best known for playing matriarch Lucille Bluth on "Arrested Development" and for her role on "Archer," Bluth died March 25 at age 80.
Craig 'Mums' Grant • Mums, who appeared on all of HBO's "Oz" from 1997-2003, died March 25 at the age of 53.
Larry McMurtry • The author of "Lonesome Dove" and screenwriter of "Brokeback Mountain" died March 26 at age 84.
Beverly Cleary • The popular children's book author of "Ramona Quimby" and "The Mouse and the Motorcycle," died March 26 at 104.
G Gordon Liddy • The Watergate scandal operative died March 30 at his home in Virginia. He was 90.
Linda Torres • The "Big Ang" reality star died April 3 from COVID-19 at the age of 67.
BB Dickerson • The bassist and vocalist for the funk rock band War died April 4 from an undisclosed illness. He was 71.
Gloria Henry • Henry, who played Alice Mitchell on "Dennis The Menace" died April 4 at age 98.
Paul Ritter • The actor, best known for his roles in "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" and "Cherynobl" died April 6 from a brain tumor. He was 54.
Alcee Hastings • The Civil Rights pioneer and Florida Congressman died April 6 from pancreatic cancer at the age of 84.
Mark Elliot • The renowned voiceover actor for Disney movie trailers and other promotional videos died at 81 after suffering two heart attacks.
Midwin Charles • The CNN and MSNBC legal analyst died April 6 at age 47. No cause of death was given.
Howard Weitzman • The powerful Hollywood lawyer whose clients included O.J. Simpson and Michael Jackson died of cancer on April 8 at the age of 81.
James Hampton • The actor, best known for his roles in "The Longest Yard" and "F Troop," died from complications of Parkinson's Disease. He was 84.
Quindon Tarver • Best known for performing Prince's "When Doves Cry" in 1996's "Romeo and Juliet," died April 1 in a car accident. He was 38.
Anne Beatts • The original "Saturday Night Live" writer and creator of the hit show "Square Pegs" died April 8 at the age of 74.
Prince Philip • The longest serving royal in history died April 9 at age 99 after battling an array of health issues.
DMX • The legendary rapper, best known for his hit "Party Up (Up In Here) died on April 9 at age 50 of a heart attack.