Barbara Louise Maas Neckers
Barbara Louise Maas Neckers
Barbara Louise Maas Neckers, 87 of Corry, PA, died peacefully in her home on Sunday, July 27th, after a four-year battle with cancer. Barb was born in Erie, PA on June 27, 1938, to Richard and Violet (Buchanan) Maas. She was raised and educated in North East, Pennsylvania and was a 1956 graduate of the North East High School.
She married Kenneth B. Neckers in 1956, and they lived in French Creek, New York. She and Ken worked with his father where they expanded the family business, transforming it from a butcher shop to a broad line food service distributor, Maplevale Farms Inc. She and Ken scrimped, saved and sacrificed to grow their business and raise three boys while holding onto their vision. Later they moved the location of the business to Clymer, New York and then eventually to Falconer, New York.
After the boys had started their own lives, Ken and Barb moved to Corry, Pennsylvania in the 1980’s where they began to settle into their chosen city. New friendships led to conversations about a legacy for the Corry community and Ken and Barb chose to contribute to help start the Corry Community Foundation. They are one of sixteen original founding families.
Barb loved life, laughter, family, and friends. Highly competitive, by her own admission, she would teach her grandchildren a card game and then when they started winning, she would change the rules until she won again. She enjoyed traveling with friends and family, golfing, gardening, birdwatching, bowling, bingo, gambling, reading, and a good movie. In her younger days, she and her husband Ken could be seen dancing with the Triangle Squares and Beaver Squares or walking, Ken running, with the Thundering Herd, a local running and walking group, where she made many lifelong friends.
She was a member of the Corry First United Methodist Church and enjoyed being a part of the Corry Garden Club. She was active in several card playing groups and a couple bible studies. She looked forward to the Corry Senior Center’s games, programs and camaraderie.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth Neckers; son, Gary Neckers; sister, Sharon Jagoda, and brother, Thomas Maas.
Barb is survived by her two sons, Douglas Neckers and his wife Wendy of Corry, PA and Andrew Neckers of Clymer, NY; daughter-in-law, Sandy Neckers of Clymer, NY and stepson Bruce Randall and his wife Jacki of Richmond, VA.
She is further survived by her brother, Jim Maas and his wife Wilma of Michigan; sister. Diana Lipnickey of Rochester and brother, Rick Maas and his wife Ann of North East, PA; eight grandchildren, Bruce (Amy) Neckers, Heather (Murl) Kinal, Shawn Miller, Joel Neckers, Ariel Phoenix, Cameron Neckers, (Wyntergrace Williams), Victoria Neckers, (Todd Olson) and Danielle Neckers and many great-grandchildren.
Family and friends are invited to call at Bracken Funeral Home, Inc., 315 N. Center St, Corry, PA 16407 on Wednesday, Aug. 6th from 2 pm to 4 pm and 6 pm to 8 pm and are invited to attend a funeral service that will be held there on Thursday, August 7th at 11 am. Rev. John Zimmerman and Rev. Brian Eiss will officiate.
Burial will be in Pine Grove Cemetery, Corry, PA.
To sign the guest book or send condolences, please visit www.brackenfh.com.