James E. Neely, 81, of
Renfrew, Pennsylvania, passed away on January 2,
2012 at 7:22 a.m. at the VNA Inpatient Hospice.
He was born September 12,
1930 in Butler, Pennsylvania to the late W. John
Neely and Pearl Mae Warner Neely.
Mr. Neely was a veteran of
the United States Air Force where he was a Staff
Sgt. serving during the Korean War. While stationed
in Alaska, he was an aircraft mechanic. He was
self-employed with his father, worked at Hoffman
Auto Parts and retired from United Telephone. Mr.
Neely was a member of St. John's Reformed Church
where he was a member of the Consistory. He was an
active member over the past 63 years of the Meridian
Volunteer Fire Department and was a member of the
Masons, Butler Lodge #272. He enjoyed traveling with
his late wife, Norma Jean, spending time with his
grandsons and was a devoted volunteer fireman.
Mr. Neely is survived by
one daughter, Donna S. Zang and her husband Robert
of Evans City, PA; two grandsons, Jason R. Zang and
Garrett J. Zang, both of Evans City, PA; one
brother, Bill Neely and his wife Mary Kay of Butler,
PA; and a number of nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents,
he was preceded in death by his wife Norma Jean
Walker Neely, whom he married June 16, 1955 and who
passed away November 26, 2010; one infant son,
William Charles Neely; and one brother, Leroy J.
Neely.
Friends will be received
Wednesday, January 4, 2012 from 7:30 to 9 p.m. &
Thursday, January 5, 2012 from 2 to 4 & 7 to 9 p.m.
at
the Thompson - Miller Funeral Home, Inc., 124 East
North Street Butler, PA.
Officers and Members of #272 Butler Lodge F. & A.M. will meet at the funeral home at
6:45 p.m. on Thursday, January
5, 2012 to conduct
memorial services.
Funeral services will be held on Friday,
January 6, 2012, 11:00 am at the St. John's Reformed
Church, 493 Evans City Road Butler, PA, with
Reverend Robert Peterson, officiating.
Officers and members of the
American Legion Post #778 Lyndora, and the VFW post
#249 will conduct military services following
committal service at Greenlawn Burial Estates.
Interment will take place at Greenlawn Burial
Estates.
Memorial Donations may be
made to the Meridian Volunteer Fire Department, 121
Sparks Avenue, Butler, PA 16001, St. John's Reformed
Church, 493 Evans City Road, Butler, PA 16001 or the
VNA Inpatient Hospice, 115 Technology Drive, Butler,
PA 16001.
