Jun 2000 Obit- Neeley, Helen A Beers, Montezuma County, Colorado

Donated by Tom Vaughan, Editor: The Mancos Times-Tribune 

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  Helen Adella Beers was born Aug. 28, 1912, in Aztec, N.M., to Hattie Ann
Lucas and Clarence Roy Beers. They moved to Mancos when she was two years
old. She died at her home June 20, 2000. Joint memorial services were held
June 29 for Chick and Helen Neeley. Chick's date of death was Feb. 5, 1998.
Helen was stricken with polio when she was nine which left her paralyzed.
After a year she continued with her schooling and began piano lessons. She
became a certified Progressive Series Music instructor through the Institute
of Music, St. Louis, Mo. She taught piano for 45 years to as many as 35-40
students (some adults) in a week, with some coming from Cortez and Durango
as well as Mancos.
  She and Chick Neeley were married April 30, 1940, in Aztec, N.M., and for a
few years they lived in logging camps where Chick was working. In 1960 they
designed and built their house to her needs.
In January 1962, Helen was honored by radio station KVFC's Woman of the Year
for the musical heritage of the community and later she was chosen by the
Mancos Business & Professional Women's Club as Woman of the 3rd Century.
Though confined to a wheelchair, Helen was an inspiration to many people and
enjoyed hobbies, including sewing knitting, growing African violets, crafts
and especially visits from her friends. She was a 50-year member of P.E.O.
Sisterhood and was the longest living member of the Mancos United Methodist
Church.
  Helen was preceded in death by her husband, Charles (Chick) Neeley, her
parents and a sister, Mary Beers McClellan. She is survived by a brother,
Robert L. Beers of Durango; sister Betty and husband Noland Alexander of
Mancos; two sisters-in-law, Geneva Cox of Mancos and Winnie and husband
Elbert Mallett of Rangely; brothers-in-law, Kenneth Brown of Mancos, Jim
Neeley of Cortez and Raymond Neeley of Farmington; many nieces and nephew,
and their caregivers for nearly five years, Donna and Mike Hunt.
-- 

Tom Vaughan, Editor
The Mancos Times-Tribune 
Serving the beautiful Mancos Valley since 1892
P.O. Box 987, Mancos, CO 81328
(970) 533-7766     (970) 565-8527
thomasv@cortezjournal.com  fax (970) 565-8532      

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