Ruth Neely, 87

Ruth Neely, 87, of Mountain Home, died Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2004, as the result of a weakened heart due to surgery following a fall.

She was laid to rest in Mountain View Cemetery in Mountain Home, on Saturday Nov. 6.

Ruth was born in Eldon, Iowa, Oct. 12, 1917, to Stephen A. Douglas and Rosetta J. Goudy Neely, the youngest of seven children. She was preceded in death by her entire parental family.

Ruth went to Iowa Methodist Nursing School following high school graduation. She became a registered nurse and pursued her career for 36 years. She served her country during WWII from Feb. 27, 1943 until Nov. 28, 1945.

Ruth married Robert M. Neely on June 3, 1942, in Tucson, Ariz.

She had been a resident of Mountain Home since 1957 when her husband was stationed at (and later retired from) Mountain Home Air Force Base.

Ruth became involved with the community working as an obstetrical nurse. She retired from nursing as a Civil Service Nurse at the Mountain Home Air Force Base Hospital in the early '70s. She helped deliver over 5,000 babies in her career.

She raised two children here and was active in a number of community organizations, including Rebekahs, Amaranth, DAV, American Legion, and Elkettes.

"She had developed many lifelong relationships and will be missed by both family and friends," her family said. "Ruth's life was lived in a very nurturing fashion to those who loved and knew her."

She is survived by: her son, John D. and his wife, Deborah A. Neely; four grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

A daughter, Debra Jane Neely, preceded her in death.