Claude Henry Nicely, an Army veteran of WWII, passed away at his home in Buena Vista at the age of 86 on Tuesday, May 26, 2009.

Mr. Nicely was a member of Lexington Baptist Church and a life member (retired) of Local 1665, United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (The Carpenters).

He was born March 22, 1923 in the Jacktown area of Rockbridge County, a son of the late Henry and Mary Nicely.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 48 years, Agnes L. Armstrong Nicely; three brothers, Ernest Nicely, Crawford Nicely, Coleman Nicely; five sisters, Virginia Irvine, Bertie Irvine, Rosa Morris, Helen Kirby and Lucy Conner.

Surviving are a son, Claude Tim Nicely, of Front Royal; a daughter, Carol Jean Knott and husband, Tom, of Manassas; four grandchildren, Arthur Knott, III of Sterling, Stacy Phillip Knott and wife, Darlene, of Bristow, Shawn T. Nicely, of Front Royal and Ashlee N. Nicely, of Falls Church; four great-grandchildren, Brittany Knott, Ryan Knott, of Bristow, Ann Marie Nicely, of Stanley and Colton James Nicely, of Front Royal.

A special thanks to his caregiver, Sharon Mason of Buena Vista and to Rockbridge Area Hospice, a group of dedicated people and to whom donations may be made in lieu of flowers.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 30, 2009 at Harrison Funeral Chapel with Rev. Michael Wilburn officiating. Burial will follow in Stonewall Jackson Cemetery with full military rites. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, May 29, 2009 at Harrison Funeral Home & Crematory, Lexington, VA.