Beatrice M. Neely

Beatrice M. “Betty” Lamb Neely, 95, most recently of Clarion, passed away peacefully early Saturday morning, May 24, 2025 at the Clarion Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center. She was born on July 26, 1929 at Spencer Hospital in Meadville to the late Oakley E. and Hazel B. McCurdy Lamb. Betty was the youngest of 5 children and only one born in a hospital. She was a 1947 graduate of Saegertown High School, where she was the captain of the girls’ basketball team - remarkable in that she was born without a left hand. Betty also attended Erie Business School. She married her former husband and father of her children, Delbert “Cotton” Neely, on February 3, 1951 in Midland City, AL, where they lived while Cotton was serving in the US Army. They divorced in 1979. Betty worked at Weinland Appliance Store, Talon, Saegertown High School Cafeteria, Vic Farrah Chevrolet in the parts department, and retired from Fame Manufacturing in 1996. She was an active member of the Saegertown United Methodist Church all her adult life where she was also treasurer for many years and assisted with funeral dinners. Betty was also a charter member of the Saegertown American Legion Auxiliary where she volunteered at Bingo nights throughout the 1970s. She lived most of her almost 96 years in and around Saegertown until she moved to Seneca in 2019 to be near her family. Betty is survived by her son, Dell (Ruth) Neely of Seneca; her daughter, Carolyn (Tim) Vuksan of Vowinckel; 6 grandchildren, Kyle (Suzie) Vuksan of Greensburg, Sarah (Ben) Neely-Collins of Dover, DE, Emily (Bryan) Vuksan Kiskadden of Clarion, Sarah (Joe) Vahlberg of Oil City, Tony Wolbert of Clarion, and Ryan (Heather) Clark of Pittsburgh; and 8 great-grandchildren, Brinley, Lillian, Tenley, and Beckett Kiskadden of Clarion, Jeffrey Vuksan of Greensburg, Elliott and Crosby Collins of Dover, DE, and Quinn Vahlberg of Oil City; along with several nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, Betty was preceded in death by all 4 of her siblings and their spouses, Daniel (Arlette) Lamb, Oakley (Emma) Lamb, Ruth Dana (Stanley) Heald, and Shirley (Donald) Osborne; 2 nephews, Jim Heald and Martin Heald; and 3 nieces, Priscilla Heald Mays, Susan Osborne Luben, and Dianne Lamb. The family would like to thank the staff of the Clarion Care Center and AseraCare for the care they gave to Betty. The Robert V. Burns Funeral Home in Clarion is handling the arrangements. There will be no public visitation and a memorial service for her family will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Betty’s honor to the Saegertown United Methodist Church, PO Box 689, Saegertown, PA 16433 or to the Saegertown Volunteer Fire Company, 603 Erie Street, Saegertown, PA 16433.

Beatrice M. Neely

July 26, 1929 - May 24, 2025