Treasured Volunteer Leaves Lasting Legacy

Breathe Easy news magazine, Fall 2006/Winter 2007

Lois Neely spent some of her last years volunteering for the American Lung Association, diligently handwriting letters and notes thanking supporters for their contributions. She once said it was just her way of giving back because she was so grateful for the support she had received from the American Lung Association. Now in her passing, she has left a lasting legacy by reminding us all of the power of giving.

Though she had never smoked a cigarette in her life, Lois developed emphysema as a result of being exposed to secondhand smoke for 30 years. The Santa Rosa resident attended the American Lung Association’s Better Breather’s group, where she received support and learned how to better manage her disease.

As a treasured volunteer, Lois gave of herself, spending hours at her dining room table writing each personal note in perfect penmanship. Over the years, the retired school teacher wrote more than 10,000 postcards and notes thanking donors and volunteers for their gifts.

“I just love doing this,” she once said. “I like to write each name and think about the people who are helping the American Lung Association.”