Dorothy E. Neely, (96) went to be with the Lord peacefully at The Caring Place in Franklin on Saturday, March 23, 2024.
She was born August 1, 1927 in Mariasville, PA, the second of five children born to Gerald and Nellie Grimm Weeter.
She married Lawrence (Jim) Neely, Jr. in 1948. Together they raised five children on their dairy farm near Lamartine.
Dorothy attended first through eighth grades at East Home School, often walking the several miles to and from school, (uphill both ways), with her two brothers and two sisters. She graduated from Emlenton High School in 1944 and graduated from Franklin Commercial College. Dorothy worked as a bookkeeper for H.J. Crawford of Emlenton, then later as a bookkeeper for Franklin Service & Supply in Franklin.
Dorothy and Jim owned and operated Neely Farms until the mid-1980’s. After retiring, a cruise to Alaska and a trip to Australia and New Zealand were the highlights of their traveling experiences. They also enjoyed golfing and were members at High Level Golf Course.
Dorothy was an active member of Salem Reformed Church of Lamartine. She looked forward all week to Sunday school and church, as well as the Tuesday morning ladies Bible study group. She sang in the church choir for many years and was a Sunday school teacher. She and Jim were active members of the Clarion Venango Holstein Club, the Clarion Venango Dairy Princess Committee and the Clarion County Farm Bureau. She was a former member of Emlenton Chapter Order of the Eastern Star.
At home she enjoyed reading. Perhaps her greatest joy was family gatherings. She was never happier than when, “everybody can come,” to her house for holiday get-togethers.
Survivors include her children: Doug Neely of Lamartine, Rick (Amy) Neely of Cochranton, Steve (Pat) Neely of Lamartine, Beth (Ken) Raney of State College, and Cindy (Mike) Weimer, of Lamartine. She has 13 grandchildren: Holly (Robert) Gizzio of Chester Springs, Linda (Sonosuke) Tachibana of San Jose CA, Matthew (Jamie) Neely of Endicott NY, Brian (Traci) Neely of Utica , Melissa ( Kris) Lowry of Utica, Amanda Neely of Monroeville, Andrew (Tara) Neely of Factoryville, Ashley (Pete Druding) Neely of Natrona Heights, Abigail (Drew) Bennett of Muncie IN, Christopher (Kristen) Raney of Baltimore MD, Michelle Raney (Zach Kavo) of State College, Sarah (Kevin) Messing of Ubly MI, Spencer (Brooke) Weimer of Ferndale WA; 17 great-grandchildren: Daniel and Isaiah Neely, Landon Neely, Lydia and Sawyer Lowry, Caleb, Gavin and Logan Gizzio, Josuke, Malia and Luke Tachibana, Zoe Neely, Collin and Brennan Raney, Neely and Myra Messing, and Levi Weimer; and 2 sisters-in-law: Nancy Weeter and Anne Weeter.
In addition, to her parents and husband, Dorothy was predeceased by her siblings: Helen Dreibelbis (Harris), Harold Weeter, Mary Jean Milford (Harry), Kenneth Weeter; daughter-in-Law: Sherry Neely and granddaughters: Rachel and Leah Weimer.
The family would like to thank The Caring Place and AseraCare Hospice for Dorothy’s wonderful care.
Family and friends will be received from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Thursday, March 28, 2024 at the McEntire-Weaver Funeral Home, 504 E Penn Ave, Knox and from 10-11 a.m. Friday, March 29, 2024 at the Salem Reformed Church of Lamartine, 2055 Turkey City Road, Knox.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, in the church, with Reverend Chris Lewis, pastor of the church, officiating and will be live streamed on the McEntire-Weaver Funeral Home Facebook page.
Interment will follow in the Salem Reformed Church Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made in the name of Dorothy E. Neely to the Salem Reformed Church of Lamartine, P.O. Box 238, Lamartine, PA 16375
To view and share photos or leave an online condolence please visit our website at www.mcentire-weaverfuneralhome.com.