Beverly Lee Neeley

Jun 5, 1928 -

Jan 2, 2023

On Jan. 2, 2023, Beverly Lee Neeley, aka Bev Van Cleve, Bev Boyer, "Gammie," and Mom, passed away, at age 94, from complications of Alzheimer's disease.

Beverly was born on June 5, 1928, in Tacoma, and grew up in Oak Harbor, Wash. She married her high school sweetheart Lane Boyer and in 1957, the adventurous couple towed a homemade trailer up the Alcan Highway to Fairbanks, Alaska. Four years later, the family followed Lane's job with Olympic National Life Insurance to Anchorage, Alaska, where Bev pursued her first career of raising six children. After the couple's divorce in 1971, she juggled that labor of love with jobs at Montgomery Wards in sales and Unocal 76 as the welcoming receptionist and switchboard operator.

Her soul was feisty, but at the same time gentle. She was the family disciplinarian, but her "sternness" would be tempered with one of her strongest curse words, "Jeeze-Peeze-Louise." She treasured activities that involved her children, like picking blueberries at Byer's Lake, making trays of holiday cookies or watching the family devour a pot of her unrivaled macaroni and cheese. She loved getting out in the Alaska wild. Camping at Hidden or Big Lake were always a joy, as well as clam digging on the beaches of the Kenai and coming in second place at the Business Women's Dog Mushing Derby in Fairbanks. She spent a number of memorable summer days at the family cabin at Harding Lake, or the family island on Crooked Lake.

In 1972, she married Frank Neeley and immersed herself in his passion: fishing. She also took immense pride in beating him often in their daily pinochle games. Bev spent 50-plus years living at 16th and E Street and frequently remarked about how her town had grown up around her. In 1998, both mom and Frank were honorary chairpersons for the Annual Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk in honor of their work with that educational group. Eleven years later the ugly disease began its journey in Mom culminating with a fall that put her in Providence Extended Care and then Marlow Manor. Frank left the family home and joined his beloved wife at Marlow until his passing in 2015. Bev resided at the Anchorage Pioneer Home Delaney Gardens wing for the last six years. The family extend their deepest appreciation to the knowledgeable, caring staff of the Alaska Regional Hospital, Marlow Manor, the Anchorage Pioneer Home and Providence Hospice.

Bev was preceded in death by her parents, Don and Irene Van Cleve; husbands, Lane Boyer and Frank Neeley; and sons, Brad and John Boyer. She is survived by her brother, Donald Van Cleve Jr. and wife Kaye Van Cleve of Bend, Ore.; children, Doug Boyer and wife Janet of Lenore, Idaho, Barb Boyer and husband Bob Dulak of Eureka, Alaska, Robb Donohue Boyer and wife Erin Donohue Boyer of Anchorage, Jim Neeley and wife Gretchen Neeley of Anchorage; as well as Steve Yovan, life-partner to deceased son Brad; and Nome Linton Boyer, wife of deceased son John. Bev was a doting grandmother to Wil Neeley, Bonnie Lee Miller, Justin Prasil, Todd and Aaron Showalter, Sara and Ryan Boyer, and Jesseca, Seth, Rachel and Adam Boyer. She was the always caring great-grandmother to her five great-grandchildren.

At Bev's request, no formal service will take place. Her life will be celebrated in June 2023 at the family island by spreading her ashes on her sugar maple tree.