With great sadness, we announce the unexpected passing of Mason Blake Neeley, age 16, on Thursday, December 15, 2022.
Mason was born on April 25, 2006, in Cincinnati, Ohio to Blake and Stacie Neeley. Growing up in Franklin County, Mason loved the outdoors and began fishing and hunting with his dad early on, nabbing his first deer at the age of 6.
Mason loved football but found his calling with wrestling, excelling immediately with his scrappy self, even going undefeated in all his matches his eighth-grade year.
As Mason got older, you would find him doing crazy stunts on his dirt bike or quad and generally getting into mischief. He was happiest when spending time with his friends, who he saw as family. He had an eclectic taste in music, you never knew if you were going to hear hip hop, country, old school, or anything in between. He even loved to belt out his favorite songs in the shower even though he couldn’t keep a tune!
Mason was an infectious soul. His huge smile and outgoing personality couldn’t be ignored and anyone who met him almost immediately loved him. He could walk into a room with that grin of his, give you a bear hug, and instantly make you feel better. He was the first one to lend a hand to anyone, didn’t know a stranger, and was a fiercely protective big brother. Those who knew Mason, even just for a moment, lost a shining light in their lives. While he found his peace, our worlds will be forever dimmer without him in it.
In addition to his loving parents, Mason will be missed every day by his younger sister Avery (who he called his little prodigy), his maternal grandparents Lambert and Janet Ison, paternal grandmother Virginia Neeley, and many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. Mason joins his paternal grandfather Clarence Neeley, and great grandparents Bill and Jean Ison and Carrie (Schalk) Roessler in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, December 22, 2022, at Cook Rosenberger Funeral Home, 929 Main Street, Brookville, IN 47012, from 2 p.m. until the time of service at 4 p.m. The family would like to invite attendees and those who couldn’t make services to a gathering of fellowship immediately following at the Brookville American Legion, 1290 Fairfield Ave, Brookville, IN 47012. In addition, a celebration of life to remember and honor Mason will take place at a later date, most likely in the spring.
For those who wish, in lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate memorial contributions be made to the Mason Neeley Memorial Fund at Friendship State Bank, 1362 IN-46, Batesville, IN 47006, to benefit the Batesville Youth Wrestling Club.