BOONE, Iowa—Melissa Sue (Licata) Neely, daughter of Tim and Bernice (Reuter) Licata, was born on May 4, 1987, in DeWitt, Iowa. She graduated from Boone High School in 2005. She went on to college at Des Moines Area Community College in Boone and Iowa State University graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Child, Adult and Family Services in 2009.
Melissa met the love of her life Justin Neely at a Pufferbilly Days Dance in 2004 and were married on August 9, 2014 in Boone. They have two daughters together. Melissa worked for Vision Bank in Boone as a loan assistant for the last ten years.
Melissa enjoyed spending time with her family and friends, especially her two daughters, tending to her garden and flowers, going for walks, watching Iowa wrestling with Justin and shopping for deals.
Melissa was diagnosed on March 17, 2023 with cholangiocarcinoma, a rare bile duct liver cancer, at the age of 35. Melissa passed away on Thursday, February 15, 2024, at the Israel Family Hospice House in Ames.
Melissa was preceded in death by her great-grandparents Myron and Lorain Hendericks; grandparents Karl and Beverly Licata and Michael and Edna Reuter; and dog Maverick.
Living family members include her husband, Justin and children, Madison and Olivia of Boone. Her parents, Tim and Bernice Licata (Platte City, MO); sister, Jenny (Todd) Ross of West Des Moines and nephews, Lucas and Nathan Ross; and many aunts, uncles, cousins and other loving family members.
Visitation will be held from 4:00 P.M. until 6:30 P.M. on Tuesday, February 20, 2024 at the Church of the Sacred Heart in Boone, where there will be a Vigil Service held at 6:30 P.M. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 A.M. on Wednesday, February 21, 2024 at the church. Burial will be held in the Sacred Heart Cemetery in Boone.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Schroeder-Reimers Memorial Chapel at 6th and Marshall in Boone. Online condolences may be left for Melissa’s family at www.schroedermemoriachapel.com.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be directed to the Melissa Neely Fund c/o Vision Bank, 504 Story Street, Boone, Iowa 50036.
