In loving memory of
Priscilla Ann Neeley-Johnson

• October 22, 1956
• -
• March 15, 2025

With valor and discretion,
yet sharp, twinkle of wit,
with patience she taught,
and courage she fought
yet never complained.
elegant she remained
dancing through life
a sparrow in flight.
Priscilla brought the best
of us to light
so that, grateful,
carry on we might

After a beautiful ceremony celebrating life and Priscilla's gracious passage on Earth, another dawn reminds us of how blessed we are. Taylor and Priscilla 's home overflows with a tribute to their sense of hospitality and homeliness, Americana at its best, to the smallest detail, a time capsule. The echoes of gratitude are everywhere, should we be willing to listen, willing to see. Life is a precious, ephemeral gift to be treasured. Carrying on in life and love is a bittersweet mission.

Priscilla and my family were raised Veedersburg. Her dad was the family dentist. Priscilla was in the same class as my brother Bill. I was so sorry to hear for Priscilla's passing. Prayers for her family and friends.

I met Priscilla and Taylor in 1980 in Lexington, Massachusetts. That encounter flourished into a lifelong journey and a friendship. Over decades, my husband Scott and I joined them on many occasions and became quite the party of four. There were many changes of address over the years, but the bonds of friendship endured. Priscilla, like Scott had the same birthday and that same unique astrological quality to balance things as Libras do. Priscilla had a presence of soft spoken kindness. She always seemed to find the good in everyone. She was a devoted wife to Taylor and a forever friend to our family including our pets. Over the years, she was a guiding light through the birth of our daughter Lauren in 1985, her significant role as godmother to Lauren, her elegant presence at our wedding in 1998 and Lauren's in 2002, and idyllic, happy times at the Eden cabin in Maine. She loved the call of the loons and nature's call that beckoned her back there every summer, including last summer. Her favorite color was plum. I was so grateful to have her join us for last Thanksgiving. It will be one time to remember. What will remain most indelible about Priscilla, was her amazing grace , strength, and poise throughout her life despite every face of adversity at the end. She has left quite a legacy and I will miss her dearly.

Gracious and warm hearted are two words that come to mind right away. Priscilla was in the youngest tier of our many cousins on her mother's side. I (Ross) was one of the older ones.
And though it was only sometimes we played together, she had a very genuine charm even as a little kid. Our families in Indiana usually came together on holidays and little Priscilla held her own in the crowd. Sometimes we took the long drive to Veedersburg to get dental work from uncle Shirley. We didn't mind, as their beautiful home was great to visit, and the woods behind it were magical. As long as we weren't in the dental chair, uncle Shirley was a real kick. He took home movies of everyone and laughed in the most loud and uninhibited way--you could hear him through the floors of the house. The closeness and affection in their family rubbed off on every one of us, and it shone outwardly from Priscilla. She and I spent our adult years far far apart in different parts of the country. But when she spent a college semester in California, she looked me up, and took us to a concert of Crosby Stills and Nash--a carefully chosen group she was old enough and I was young enough to like. It was a transcendent visit. Years later, once when we lived in Oakland and twice here in Seattle, she and Taylor stopped their glamorous train and visited us. That was the grown up Priscilla, so authentic, so attractive, and so much still full of that love from before. She and Taylor were so perfect together, and so charming. I was proud to be related! It is so sad to think we won't see her again. But it has been a blessing to know her, and so wonderful that she remembered us and stayed in touch.

Among life's twists and turns, the Neeley friendship endures. Marriage brought me to Veedersburg three months before Priscilla was born. The common bonds of church and community brought us together - a familial friendship enduring to this day. Through the years, so much revolved around family endeavors. We majored in going out to eat after church; neither father "good" at waiting for a table - Glo Pancake House more than once when ten people couldn't be accommodated elsewhere! The Neeley pool was always a drawing card. Dancing class! Rainbow! Across those years, the Neeleys and Marshalls alternated Christmas eves in our homes - meal and fellowship. Of course, there was the memorable Santa and tree at Neeleys! A holly bow, made by Priscilla's mother, hangs on the Marshall's red front door each December, Memories! Fast forward to 1985 - Priscilla's and Taylor's wedding. Panic ensued when rental car, supposedly reserved, wasn't available in Boston! Our phone conversations - not frequent enough - covered the waterfront. In life & in death, gratitude for friendship!

How lucky am I to have been able to call Priscilla my aunt? Priscilla made everyone feel special. She listened with full attention and genuinely cared. She gave the best advice with great tact and empathy, and she always knew what to say in the blink of an eye. She was modest. She quietly donated to the things she believed in without mention. She was the embodiment of poise. Her sense of manners are unparalleled in today’s world. Even if we arrived at the cabin after midnight, Priscilla would stay up to greet us. Another thing she insisted on was keeping the slowest eater company at the dinner table (it was always me). She patiently listened to all my stories in which none of the events were ever in chronological order and almost always ended in a tangent.

Priscilla was the best mom to her pets. She tried countless ways to get Leroy to eat green beans for his health. Eventually, she succeeded with butter and seasoning, which may have cancelled out the “weight loss” aspect of the diet, but I’m sure it’s universal that every loving mother has gone those lengths for their picky eaters.

She knew something about everything. I think that’s why I thought adults were omniscient until I was about 8 years old. If I asked, she always had an articulate answer. She taught me a lot, and I picked things up from her through example. She even managed to teach me to be a mountain woman despite my lack of aptitude. She taught me how to accept defeat too, just about every time we played Scrabble.

I can confidently say she’s one of the most thoughtful people I will have the privilege of having in my life. She did so many things behind the scenes for everyone else’s comfort and benefit, much of which I’m sure went unnoticed, yet she continued to do them. I honestly thought she was the world’s best bed-maker until I later realized she had been tediously steaming the sheets on every bed since I can remember, even at the cabin. Before the upgraded coffee maker at the cabin, Priscilla was the autobrew setting. She would set it up every night, then wake up to brew the coffee and promptly go back to bed. Not that I ever woke up early enough to get a cup from this pot, but I still appreciated the sentiment. She kept a running mental log of our likes and dislikes. Most of the time, I never even had to tell her– she just noticed. Priscilla would automatically make me a separate batch of thoroughly-cooked scrambled eggs during family reunions, even after I outgrew my aversion. Anyone who’s stepped foot in the bustling cabin kitchen during a full-blown Johnson family reunion knows that’s no small task.

She was devoted to our family, and we are all truly blessed to have had her in our lives. Her passing will leave a hole in my heart and an emptiness to Camp Eden and Tranquility Base, but I have many fond memories to remember her by.

I know she’s somewhere over the rainbow where it's 85°, on a floatie, listening to Donna Summer with a glass of chardonnay in hand. We love and miss you, PJ ❤️

“How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard” -Winnie the Pooh

Correction one the date of Christmas tree and Taylor, Priscilla, Dr. Shirley and Clarence Pretty sure it was 2011, not 2001. Minor dyslexia on my part. Sorry for any confusion.

I met Taylor in the late 70s while working at Advent. We were both looking for a new place to live so we decided to look together and found a beautiful house to rent in Lexington, MA. About a year later he met Priscilla and I do believe it was love at first site! Priscilla was a perfect match for Taylor. She was a strong, smart, independent woman which is just what Taylor needed. She was the rock and stability in their relationship. My wife and I have been close friends of theirs for 45 years and we always enjoyed hanging out with them, especially in Maine. Priscilla will be sorely missed!

When I think of words to describe Priscilla, I immediately think of thoughtful, caring, graceful, modest, and wise. There are many other words to describe her but this is what comes to my mind. I remember that she always took the time to understand any situation. Regardless of background or age, she could always find a way to relate to you. Priscilla would always amaze me how she always remembered little things, like how I don't like seafood. She motivated me in the worst of times, even passively. Those instances where you get screwed by fine print or get the 10th spam call in a row, I always found myself asking, "What would Priscilla do?" She was so wise in the sense that she always enabled you to come to the correct conclusion, as opposed to just telling you, and lead by example. I always took note of how perfect her cursive writing was, and her excellent enunciation. I would try to come up with a new tongue twister annually but she always performed flawlessly. I will always cherish the late nights in Maine where she would remind us to eat after a long night of relaxing, usually leaving something in the oven to warm up. She would sometimes make eggs and pancakes with fresh blueberries in the mornings and I just thought she always went above and beyond. Priscilla helped define what family means to me, and was such a consistent force in my life that will be sorely missed. I am so thankful to have had Priscilla in my life, your love and spirit will be remembered.

Priscilla was an extremely kind, smart, funny, and all-around wonderful person; and we enjoyed every minute of her company. She will be sorely missed by everyone who was lucky enough to know her. Our hearts go out to her beloved husband Taylor, and to her family and friends.

We will remember Priscilla for her devotion...... to Taylor, to her parents, and to her canine friends. She will be sorely missed.

Priscilla, the most gracious hostess to her every houseguest.
Always warm and welcoming. Always prepared to accommodate your every need
Always welcomed with some sort of personal gift, special for YOU :-) , in your bedroom, to bring along home.
Always kept and appreciated with love and gratitude.
I will miss her forever, and always be grateful her precious spirit will live on in my heart.

I first met Priscilla when Taylor, David H., & I shared a house in Lexington, MA in the late seventies. We were having a large party and I will always remember Priscilla arriving in high heels and a full-length fur coat. Of course she did. :)
The friendships forged in that house are deep and lifelong.
I have traveled on the Caritas with PJ & TJ, they attended our wedding, they are godparents to our son, Andrew, I have visited them in Florida, and they stayed with us in CT on their way to Maine.
A lot of memories, a lot of good times. I can so vividly recall Priscilla’s laughter.
You are very much missed, Priscilla.
Sending so much love to you, Taylor.

Priscilla is a force of goodness. Even now her goodness fills our hearts and lives within us.. She is so easy to talk with. She is brilliant, has a great sense of humor and a quit wit. Our conversations run the gambit from light and lively to deep and meaningful. She is kind, caring, generous, encouraging, complimentary and helpful. She is understanding and forgiving even when wronged. She was caregiver for both her parents for many years and took the absolute best care of them. She is an Earthbound Angel. She gave me encouragement and excellent advice when I was caregiver for my sister, my Mother, my friend, my husband and myself. Our visits were always during winter. I loved how she had decorated Christmas trees in so many rooms and in every guest bedroom. If the visits were in February, the decor was all Valentines. Table settings always impeccable, and dining conversations always so pleasant. She likes my breakfasts of biscuits and gravy and has everything I need to prepare it when we arrive. I am honored I could contribute to some meal preparedness. She's a great, responsive listener. She is a loving, adoring wife to Taylor. They are a fine example of how to have a long, loving and peaceful marriage. She lives on in all of us. She is a wonderful blessing to every life she touched. Thank you, Priscilla for sharing with us all your beautiful, precious soul <3

I always saw Priscilla as my incredibly beautiful and intelligent sister-in-law. I wish that I didn’t wait as long as I had to have gotten to know her the way I do now. She was a wonderful person and made everyone’s life a little bit brighter. Although Priscilla‘s light might not be shining directly through her anymore, I do see it in everyone she ever was close to. I am proud to think that maybe I am passing her light along as well.

With love and affection Pricilla will be missed. May our friendship comfort you.

We have lost a beautiful soul. Priscilla will be missed. We loved her so much. Our thoughts and prayers are with Taylor during this difficult time.
Love,
Roger and Wendy

I grew up with Priscilla in school. She was such a giving person. We got into trouble a couple of times trying to bake but we laughed about it years later. She hosted my 12th birthday party at her home and invited our friends in the neighborhood. Such a shame to lose someone so full of life. See you again one day Priscilla!

I met Taylor before I met Priscilla. I still remember how he talked about the wonderful woman in his life and how much he loved her. I thought, who is this woman? Can anyone be so extraordinary, so lovely, so funny, so kind? This I have to see. And I did. And she was.