Helen Dorene McNeely died at the age of 92 on July 25, 2015, peacefully in her home surrounded by her family.
She was born on April 1, 1923, in Salt Lake City to John Franklin Peterson and Bell Ion Dalton Peterson. She was a lifetime resident of Moab. She graduated in 1941 from Grand County High School and shortly after married the love of her life, Waulstine “Mac” Elliot McNeely, on May 25, 1941. They have four children: Jerry (Kathy) McNeely, Nancy Wauline Denison, Roger McNeely and Brenda (Virgle) Ellis.
After getting married, they moved for short periods of time looking for work, spending time in Georgia working in the cotton and peanut farms, and in Pennsylvania working in the ship yards, later to find themselves back in Moab to raise their family.
Helen loved her family more than anything. Her greatest enjoyment was spending time with her grandchildren and her family. In her spare time, she loved gardening; her favorite part were the rose gardens. She also enjoyed watching Westerns but, most of all the loved “The Duke,” John Wayne.
Helen is survived by her four children, 10 grandchildren, 27 great grandchildren, 11 great great grandchildren, a stepbrother and a half sister. She is preceded in death by her husband and two grandsons, Mike McNeely and Jay Denison.
Funeral services and viewing were held on Friday, July 31, 2015.
You may send condolences to the family at www.SpanishValleyMortuary.com.
