Lila Neary Chambers aka “Mother Goose”, 96, died Monday, Jan. 1, 2024 in Henderson, Nevada.
Born Lila May Neary near Sidney, Nebraska, on May 29, 1927, to Roy and Rose (Wilson) Neary, she spent the first 10 years of her life in western Nebraska before she and her family moved to Wayne County, Nebraska, where she graduated from Winside High School in 1944. She began teaching that year in a county school near Hoskins, Nebraska, and continued as a grade-school educator in Nebraska, Wyoming, St. Helen’s, Oregon, and Hayward, California, until 1985. She earned her teaching credentials at Wayne State Teachers College and the University of Northern Colorado.
Specializing in reading literacy, Lila became an ambassador for the Mother Goose early-literacy program in which learning is accomplished through music, puppets, picture books, nursery rhymes, art, play, and language. Lila performed in this Mother Goose role across the U.S. for nearly 40 years.
She was also heavily involved in numerous activities of the women’s auxiliary organizations of the Masons and Shriners. In 1950 Lila married Ken Chambers, a fellow educator, and they were married until his death in 1992. She moved to Henderson, Nevada, in 2002.
Survivors include her brother, Duane L. (Jim) Neary of Sun City, Arizona, and several nieces and nephews.
Interment will be at Chapel of the Chimes Cemetery in Hayward, California.
