Ronald Earl Nicely

Ronald Earl Nicely, 87, of Ligonier, passed away Tuesday August 20, 2024, at Select Specialty Latrobe Hospital. Ron was born in his grandfather Charles E. Nicely's farmhouse on Nicely Road west of Ligonier just across the swinging bridge above the Loyalhanna Creek on Feb. 26, 1937.  He was the first child of Robert Earl and Florence Rose McDowell Nicely.  He graduated from Ligonier Boro. High School in 1954.  Ron was drafted into the US Army in 1960 and served 2 years and then in 1962, he joined the Pa National Guard in Ligonier where he served 4 years.  In 1962, he was hired by Kennametal Inc. in Latrobe and worked 17 years in Latrobe and 17 years in Raleigh, NC.  He attended evening classes at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg from 1968 through 1975 and earned a BS degree in Business Administration.  Ron served as the business Forecaster at Kennametal from 1975 until he retired in 1997.  He started a Metalworking Industry Forecasting Consulting Business in 1997.  Ron Volunteered and taught computer classes to senior citizens at the Latrobe Senior Center for 7 years starting in 1999.  He also volunteered as a Docent at Compass Inn for 13 years.  He was a lifelong member of the Covenant Presbyterian Church in Ligonier and served 2 terms as a Deacon.  After his mother gave him a lot of family information in 1997, he began gathering additional family genealogy information and became the primary source of Knusli Family History.  Ron also did DNA testing and served as the Administrator of the Nicely Surname website on the Family Tree DNA site.  Ron wrote 2 books on his family history.  "The Indian Capture of Jacob (Kneisle) Nicely" and "The 50,000 Year DNA Journey of the Knusli Family".  He appeared on 3 episodes of the TV show "Tracing Your Family Roots".  He recorded over 34,000 names of relatives in his family tree history file.  His DNA was confirmed as a descendant of Aaron of the Bible.  Ron is survived by his wife Marian "Chris" Plummer Nicely, his daughter Debra J. Nicely of Ligonier, a grandson Kevin Jordan and four great grandchildren, sisters Carol Mitchell (Bob) of Warterford and Bonnie Large (Tom) of Villages FL and several nieces and nephews.

Ron is preceded in death by his parents; two sons Roger Nicely and Richard E. Nicely, and a sister Nancy Anderson.

Family will receive friends Thursday, August 22, from 4 - 7 pm in the McCabe Funeral Home, Ligonier where a funeral service will be held on Friday at 11 AM.

Online condolences may be made at mccabefuneralhomespa.com