Nicely

Dale E. Nicely, 83, of Butler died tragically in an automobile accident on Monday.

Born Feb. 19, 1923, he was the youngest son of J. Watson Nicely and Gertrude Davies Nicely.

He was an all-around accomplished horseman. In his younger years, he was a renowned trainer of hunter/jumper horses in Ligonier, Pa., and was one of the top riders of the Rolling Rock Country Club Steeplechase Races, as well as an expert fox hunting rider.

He was also a rodeo clown and rider. He owned and operated the Happy R Ranch, where he taught riding and facilitated group trail rides and pack trips into the Laurel Mountains for clients including church groups, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, the Pittsburgh Steelers, and golf legend Arnold Palmer and his family.

He later specialized in raising nationally recognized quarter horses, and, most recently, award-winning Haflinger horses and Mountain Cur dogs. He also proudly served as a state security officer and park ranger for 10 years at McConnells Mill State Park.

Mr. Nicely loved to hunt with his dogs, ride his horses and drive his teams, but he was also a poet, artist and an engaging storyteller.

He will be very sadly missed by his daughter, Karin Nicely of Butler; his son, Grant Nicely of Greensburg; granddaughters, Chelsea Rakarich, Bronwyn Wain and Rachel Nicely; sister, Jean McChesney of Blairsville, sister-in-law Jean Nicely of Florida, many nieces and nephews, grandnieces and nephews, great-grandnieces and nephews, and many wonderful friends.

He was also looking forward to the birth of his first great-grandchild this month.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Marlin Nicely.

<B>Nicely</B> — Friends of Dale E. Nicely, who died Monday, Oct. 23, 2006, will be received from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at <B>Geibel Funeral Home, </B>201 E. Cunningham St., Butler. Friends will again be received from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday at the <B>McCraken Funeral Home</B>, 144 E. Main St., Ligonier.Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, at St. James Evangelical Lutheran Church in Ligonier. The Rev. Paul Poerschke, pastor, will officiate. Interment will follow in Ligonier Valley Cemetery.Memorial Donations may be sent to the American Haflinger Registry, 1686 E. Waterloo Road, Akron, Ohio, 44306-4103.Information also is available at www.geibelfuneralhome.com.