Elizabeth "Betsy" Ellen McNeely

MIDDLETON - Elizabeth Ellen McNeely, affectionately known as Betsy, passed away on Wednesday, May 26, at the UW Hospital in Madison after suffering a heart attack. She was 57. Betsy was born on August 13, 1963, in Madison, WI, to Jerry and Priscilla McNeely. Her father was a professor at the University of Wisconsin before relocating his family to Hollywood to pursue his career as a writer and producer in the television industry. After a semester at the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan, Betsy graduated from high school in Tarzana, CA, in 1981. That fall she enrolled as a student at Lawrence University in Appleton, WI, where her creative talents shone in a variety of theatre productions and in the artwork she created as a studio art major. Upon graduation in 1985, Betsy moved to Minneapolis and in later years alternated living in Los Angeles (to be near family) and Madison (to be near friends). In March 1988, Betsy married Victor-Charles Scafati and became stepmother to his sons, Richard and Charles, until their marriage officially ended in 1999. In the late 1990s, she began performing with local theater groups, including Broom Street Theater, Mercury Players, Strollers Theatre and First Banana Productions. She appeared in several productions, including White People, Woman in Mind, Control Freaks in Love, and FACEvalue, with her then-husband, Rob Matsushita. Betsy worked as a video game artist and animator, eventually using this experience to secure a position as the Multimedia Program Director at Madison Media Institute. After returning to Los Angeles, she worked as a multimedia designer for the law firm Howrey LLP creating visualizations to illuminate difficult concepts for trial juries. Most recently, Betsy served as an account manager for Saleytics in Middleton. An avid knitter, a skill she learned from her mother, Betsy could translate characters from animation into colorful and graphically-engaging sweaters. She also gained fans with a series of knitted hats depicting cats, dogs, eyeballs, and brains, which she donated to the Children’s Hospital in Madison and sold through her etsy shop, Yarn Toons. Betsy is preceded in death by her parents, her older sister Melissa (Missy), and an adopted brother, Ian. She is survived by her brother Joel, a respected composer, his wife Margaret Batjer, concertmaster and violinist with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, and her beloved nephew and niece, Joshua and Claire. Betsy’s life was enriched by a series of companion animals including Boris the pot-bellied pig; Duscha, a Russian Blue cat; and most recently, Igor, a spirited Siamese kitten. Betsy will be missed by family, friends, and co-workers who remember her lively wit, her enthusiasm for Halloween and all its costume-related opportunities, her caring and empathetic nature, and her ability to make any get-together so much more fun. Her family would like to extend their sincere gratitude to the medical staff in the UW Hospital’s Pulmonary & Critical Care unit for the care they extended Betsy in her final days and to the UW’s Palliative Care Team for their support. No memorial service is planned. If you would like to make a donation in Betsy’s honor, please consider a local animal shelter, the American Cancer Society, or any charity that supports children undergoing medical treatment. Gunderson West Funeral & Cremation Care 5203 Monona Drive (608) 221-5420