Esther Lucy Neely

Esther Lucy Neely (Angeles), a longtime resident of Upland, California, and most recently Riverside, California, passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 25, 2022, at age 96 with family by her side.

Esther was born in 1926 in Bakersfield. She graduated from East Bakersfield High School in 1944 and from UCLA College in 1948 with a degree in bacteriology. After graduation, she worked as a Laboratory Technologist in Bakersfield, San Bernardino, San Diego and Pomona.

While working in San Diego at Scripps Clinic, she met the love of her life, Doug. They married in 1954 and several years later, Esther took a break from her career to start a family, resuming it again after her children were in high school.

She was devoted to her faith, family, friends, health, and lifelong learning. Living a full and active life, she enjoyed reading, photography, cooking, sewing, gardening, tennis, bowling, aerobics, Tai Chi, traveling, going to movies and museums, practicing her faith, playing games, listening to music on her many vinyl records, participating in genealogy and computer clubs, and studying investing and the culture of the Native Americans of the Southwest.

Her sour cream enchiladas were a favorite dinner for family and friends alike and was the centerpiece of many festive gatherings.

Esther and Doug traveled across the country and around the world, especially in retirement. She was particularly fond of Australia, New Zealand, Alaska, Hawaii, and South America.

She was a loving mother to her two children who instilled the importance of faith, education and responsibility but always had a kind word or comforting hug.

She will be greatly missed by her family and friends, and all who knew her through her incredible life.

Preceded in death by Father, Joseph, Mother, Lucy, Sister, Betty Lou, and Husband, Doug. Esther is survived by son Matthew (Kellie), daughter Laura (Mark), Grandchildren Melissa and Eric, Great-Granddaughters Ava and Abigail, and beloved extended family. She lived a long and full life.

Services for Esther Lucy Neely will be held at Westmont Village in Riverside at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 11, 2023, in the Chapel within Westmont Village, 21233 Lemay Drive, Riverside, CA 92518. Immediately following the Memorial Service, there will be a Reception to Celebrate Esther’s life at the Ayres Hotel, 12631 Memorial Way, Moreno Valley, CA 92553.

DIRECTIONS: Westmont Village Chapel, 21233 Lemay Drive, Riverside, CA 92518. Westmont Village is near the Van Buren exit of the I-215 Freeway. Exit the I-215 at Van Buren, head west on Van Buren for 1 mile. You will go past the Riverside National Cemetery. Turn left on Village West Drive (there is a signal). Go south on Village West drive for approx. 0.8 miles. Lemay is the second entrance into Westmont Village. There is a guard gate which is usually unmanned. Pull up to the speaker, press the button, and tell them you are there for the Neely services at the Chapel. Once through the gate, the Chapel will be on Lemay Drive on your left, about 1000 feet past the gate. Google Maps will try to take you about a block farther, but the Chapel is on the southeast corner of Lemay and Arnold and you enter from Lemay.