George "Ron" Ronald Neely

George Ronald Neely - “Ron”
April 7, 1936 – November 28, 2024

George Ronald Neely, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, uncle, and friend, passed away on November 28, 2024. He was born in Ogallala, Nebraska, on April 7, 1936, along with his twin brother, Don, to Glenn and Mary Ann Neely. The family lived in Nebraska for a brief time before moving back to Colorado when Ron’s father found work as a meat cutter in Ft. Lupton. The Neely family then settled on Ron’s grandfather’s farm in Wattenberg, where Ron spent much of his childhood. 

Growing up on the farm was a formative experience for Ron, as he worked alongside his grandfather and great uncle farming with horses. The family had three teams of horses, and limited use of tractors, making it a truly hands-on, old-fashioned farming life. Ron and his twin brother attended Wattenburg Elementary School through the 8th grade before moving on to Ft. Lupton High School, where they graduated in 1954. Both were active in athletics, playing football, basketball, wrestling and track. Ron and Don both played on the 1953 state championship basketball team and then the 1954 state runner-up team. 

During the summer months, Ron and Don helped their parents in the family-owned grocery store, Neely’s Grocery, in Commerce City. They also worked on the Stieber farm during the hay-cutting season, where Ron learned the value of hard work, family and community.

After high school, Ron attended Colorado State University (CSU) on a basketball scholarship for a year before transferring to the University of Northern Colorado (UNC). While in college and during summer he worked part-time at the Safeway warehouse, spending 13 years in the frozen food department.

In 1955, Ron met Ruth Ann Dahl on a blind date arranged by his brother, Don. They dated for two years before marrying on June 8, 1957. June 8th was a significant date for Ruth’s family, as it was the wedding anniversary of Ruth’s grandparents, parents, aunt and uncle, Ruth’s younger sister, Pat, and then their daughter Pam. 

After Ruth completed her nursing program at St. Luke’s Hospital and University of Denver in the spring of 1957, the newlyweds moved to Greeley.  Ron then continued his studies at UNC and Ruth began her nursing career at Weld County Hospital. In the final two years of college, Ron worked as an evening manager at Gordon’s Downtown Food Liner.

After he graduated in 1959, the couple moved to Stratton, Colorado. Ron began his teaching career as a high school science teacher, varsity wrestling coach and junior high sports coach. Ruth continued her nursing career in Burlington, Colorado.  They purchased and moved into an 8’x42’ trailer, as housing was scarce in the area. Teaching and coaching in Stratton presented challenges, but Ron’s coaching made a lasting impact on the students, and he was proud of their team successes and achievements.

In 1961, Ron and Ruth celebrated the birth of their first child, Jerry. That same year, they left Stratton and moved to Prospect Valley. Ron taught high school biology and chemistry and coached wrestling at Weld Central High School. The family later moved to Brighton, where Ron continued teaching science and coaching wrestling, football, and track at South Junior High (now Vikan Middle School).  Over these years, the family grew with Sherry, Greg and Pam joining Ron and Ruth’s home.

In 1967, Ron transitioned from the classroom to the assistant principal role, serving in that capacity for seven years before becoming the principal of Vikan Middle School.  In 1971, Ron earned his master’s degree in Secondary Education from Adams State University.  He served as principal until his retirement in 1991.

During retirement, he enjoyed spending his time in various hobbies, including traveling the world, hunting, fishing, wood working, golfing and decorating for holidays. He spent many days building elaborate holiday displays, especially for Christmas, with sixteen wooden reindeer and a gingerbread cottage populated by Santa’s elves. 

Ron also loved attending athletic events, never missing a family member’s game. He was in almost every high school and college gym in Colorado following his children and grandchildren to hundreds of basketball games. He also endured numerous freezing and scorching softball, baseball, and football games and track events. If they played, him and Ruth were going to attend. He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren talking about school and sports. He was very proud they all received college degrees and with all their athletic success.

Ron is preceded in death by his parents, Glenn and Mary Ann Neely, his wife, Ruth and twin brother, Don. Ron is survived by his four children Jerry (Deb) Neely, Sherry (Tim) Barnard, Greg (Sandy) Neely, Pam Smith, along with six grandchildren Alexandra (Omar), Curtis (Ashley), Caitlyn, Kylie (Trent), Courtney, Mick, one step-grandchild Stephanie (Zach), three great-grandchildren Audra, Nakoa, Henry, one step-great-grandchild Trace, his sister-in-law Patricia Lambert and by many nieces, nephews, cousins and close friends who will miss him deeply.

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