Mary Lenore Neely

Mary Lenore (Hall) Neely Funeral services for Cortez resident, Mary Lenore (Hall) Neely will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Decembery 17 at the Ertel Memorial Chapel. Interment will follow at Cahone Cemetery. Mary Lenore Hall was born to Thomas and Margie Hall on March 10, 1923 in Dove Creek, Colorado. Lenore passed away peacefully in Cortez, Colorado on Sunday December 14, 2008 at the age of 85. In the early years, the family lived on the farm at Big Valley (Bug Point) until moving into Dove Creek when Lenore was eight. Lenore attended school at both Big Valley and Dove Creek where she made many lifelong friends. In 1941, Lenore married Lee (Jake) Neely in Aztec, New Mexico. They began their journey together on a farm near Cahone. Through the years they made homes on the farm in Cahone, in Dove Creek, and then back on the farm. Lenore was a devoted mother to five children, and dearly enjoyed a large extended family of grandchildren, great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. As a homemaker, Lenore enjoyed sewing, quilting, and crocheting, as well as gardening. While these talents began as a necessity, she used her creativity to make many exceptional quilts and blankets that she shared with her children and grandchildren. Throughout her life, Lenore's gardening supplied many fine meals, but her true passion was apparent it the beautiful flower gardens she tended. Lenore was preceded in death by her husband Lee in 1991, her daughter Sharon Stowe, and an infant son Bradley Kim Neely. She was also preceded by her parents and five older brothers. Lenore is survived by a son Jerry Neely of Cortez, a daughter Diane Bishop (Mike) of Littleton, Colorado, a son Brian Neely (Peggy) of Phoenix, Arizona, and a brother Victor Hall (Phyllis) of Cahone. Lenore has eight grandchildren; Greg Neely, Laura Stanbro, Shelly Morr, Becky McDermott, Stephanie Marquez, Gloria Neely, Brent Bishop, and Mackenzie Neely as well as 10 great grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Cahone Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Ertel Funeral Home. For further information of to send condolences, log on to www.ertelfuneralhome.com and click on the obituary section.