Nora Lee Neeley

Nora Lee Neeley of McKee, Kentucky, passed away on March 12, 2026, at the age of 86. Born Nora Esther King on August 3, 1939, to Hattie Moore Stevens and Delbert King, she was affectionately called “Nora Lee” by her father, a name that stayed with her throughout her life. She graduated as valedictorian from Tyner High School and went on to build a rich and resilient life marked by love, creativity, and quiet strength.

Nora Lee was an exceptionally gifted seamstress and tailor, creating costumes, cheer uniforms, and wedding gowns with remarkable skill. Her ability to alter intricate formal wear earned her widespread admiration throughout the county. She also possessed a deep passion for softball, earning the nickname “The Queen of Softball” in local news. She played and pitched in community leagues well into her sixties and was inducted into the Kentucky Softball Hall of Fame. For many years, the game served as a joyful outlet while she devoted herself to the care of her disabled son, Nicholas, whom she tended to with unwavering love until his passing.

A woman of Christian faith, Nora Lee was a longtime Cincinnati Reds fan who found simple pleasure in mowing the grass and sharing humorous quips with those around her. Her outgoing nature and warm spirit made her a friend to all and a beloved presence in her community. She was preceded in death by her parents, her first husband Bradley Combs, her second husband Dwight “Tooter” Neeley, her son Nicholas Combs in 2008, and her daughter Patricia Sandlin in 2009. She is survived by her daughter Carolyn Sue Smith and son-in-law Norman Smith, her son Mikel Neeley and daughter-in-law Judy Neeley, three grandchildren, Justin (Ruth) Sandlin, Joshua (Lashei) Smith, and Lacey Smith, and seven great-grandchildren, Ella, Patrick, Jackson, Alyson, Anderson, Lincoln, and Riley.