Mary Frances Varney Nicely, age 80, of 4800 Nicelytown Road, Clifton Forge, Virginia died Tuesday, January 9, 2018 at Lewis Gale Medical Center in Salem.

She was born November 5, 1937 in Henlawson, West Virginia to the late Archie and Alma Burgess Varney.

She was a registered nurse, retired from the Chesapeake and Ohio Hospital and the office of Dr. Paul Strausbaugh, but the Christian church was Mary's life.

She was an ordained minister within the First Assembly of God Church, where she served as pastor to the seniors, taught Sunday school for 30 years, and sang in the choir. She also taught Bible study at the former Liberty House Nursing Home, Scott Hill Apartments, and Clifton Woods Apartments. She assisted with the church food ministry as well.

She enjoyed sewing in her early years, and loved her cats.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Fremont A. Nicely, and two brothers, Jim Varney and Walter Varney.

She is survived by a daughter, Sharon Rice and husband, Chris of Covington; a son, Forrest Nicely and wife, Rachelle of Clifton Forge; four sisters, Ardena Gumm of Tennessee, Joyce Thompson of West Virginia, Della Myers of Ohio, and Debbie Hubbard of Texas; two brothers, Bill Varney of South Carolina and Lowell Varney of Ohio; four grandchildren, Zachary Nicely, Devin Nicely, Cooper Rice, and Kalin Rice; two special grandchildren, Eddie Lewis and Megan Lewis; a number of nieces and nephews; and a host of special friends.

A funeral service will be held on Friday, January 12, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. in the First Assembly of God Church, Clifton Forge, with Pastor Teddy Bias, Reverend Doug Moore, and Reverend Grover Nicely officiating. Interment will follow in Central Advent Christian Cemetery, Clifton Forge.

The family will receive friends on Thursday evening from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at Nicely Funeral Home, Clifton Forge.

The family suggests memorial tributes take the form of contributions to the First Assembly of God Food Ministry, 1608 Oak Hill Avenue, Clifton Forge, VA 24422.