In Loving Memory of the most wonderful Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Sister, Aunt and Friend

Nola Peterson Neeley

July 14, 1938 ~ February 5, 2025

Watch Nola’s Memorial Service

The service will be broadcast on Saturday, February 15th at 10am

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weAabvtAmhc

Nola’s Poetry

Many of you know that she was a wonderful poet, and she loved to read and write poetry that spoke to the hearts of those who read it. She would love for you to have a copy.

Life Sketch

Nola was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, the fourth child of Clare Joseph Peterson and Annie (Nan) Hatch. She had five beloved siblings, JoAnne, Gwennie, Gary, Richie, and David. On her 5^th birthday, Nola’s father left the family to serve in the Navy as a Seebee in WWII in the South Pacific.

Nola attended East High School in Salt Lake City and, in 1957, at age 18, she moved with her family to California for a short time before returning to Utah to attend the University of Utah. Here, she met Kenneth R. Neeley who had recently returned from his mission to Hawaii. They were married on September 15, 1958 in the Salt Lake Temple. 

They had two sons (Robert and Scott) before graduating from the University of Utah together in 1961. The family moved to Colorado Springs, CO, where their 3rd son (Brian) was born, and back to Utah where their 4th son was born (Matthew).

In 1966, Ken accepted a three-year civil service assignment as an accountant for the U.S. Air Force in Seville, Spain. While in Spain, Ken was called to serve as the first Branch President in Seville. The family was expanded there when Nola gave birth to their 5th child and only daughter (Nanette). In 1969, they returned to California. The following year, their 6th child and 5th son was born (Nathan).

The family settled in Monrovia, California where they lived for 20 years. Here, Nola immersed herself in service to her church and community, including organizing and directing a community youth choir, The Small World Singers, starting and managing a preschool, and teaching early-morning seminary to high school-aged youth for more than a decade. She supported her husband as he served as bishop of the Monrovia Ward and as Patriarch for the Arcadia Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Nola was creative and an entrepreneur. She started several businesses to help support her family. She also enrolled at Cal Poly Pomona at 42 years of age and earned a Masters Degree in Education. She supported all five of her sons as they chose to serve missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Her eldest son, Robert, traveled throughout the world with the BYU Young Ambassadors.

In June of 1984, Nola faced the greatest trial of her life when Robert passed away after being struck by lightning. He had been a pillar of strength to her and the family. Life without him seemed almost impossible. As heart-wrenching as this experience was, it served as a catalyst to immensely strengthen her faith in and testimony of her Savior, Jesus Christ. The loss of her son bound the family together as never before.

These events also opened within her a love for writing poetry as a form of healing and expression. This became an important part of her life ever since. She published two books of poetry.

In 1985, after Robert’s passing, she and her husband established the K. Robert Neeley Scholarship Foundation. Over the years, the foundation has awarded more than 500 scholarships and also sponsored Liu Ge-Yao, a close friend Robert met while traveling in China, to pursue studies at BYU.

 In 1989, Ken was called to serve as President of the Chicago Illinois Mission. He and Nola cherished their time working alongside the missionaries and the people of the Chicago area, forming lasting friendships with the young elders and sisters while developing a deep love for the community. Their passion for missionary service continued beyond their time in Chicago, leading them to serve two additional missions in Salt Lake City after their return.

Upon their return to California, Ken began working as the temple recorder in the new San Diego temple. Nola began serving as the Stake Relief Society President until their move to Orange County.

Nola was blessed with the gift to love every person she met. Thousands have been touched by her kindness and her example. As a family, we are grateful for her loving influence and teachings as well as the love and support provided to her by her many friends.

On February 5, 2025, Nola passed peacefully from this life surrounded by her family. We know she was joyfully received into the arms of her loving husband, Ken, and her dear son, Robert.

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