Helen Neely

HELEN NEELY   Tupelo - Helen Rae Nunnery Neely, 90, passed away Thursday, January 5, 2017 at her daughter's house on the Nunnery Family Farm in Liberty after an extended illness. Helen was born January 8, 1926 at the same farm to Ollie Rae and Winnie Irwin Nunnery. She graduated from East Fork High School in Liberty in 1943, and she attended Southwest Junior College where she graduated in 1947. She also attended Mississippi State University. As a child and young adult, Helen was a member of East Fork Baptist Church in Liberty. In 1949, she married Julius T. Neely. She was a homemaker until 1968. She worked for 20 years as office manager at Tupelo Anesthesia Group where she retired in 1988. Since 1961, she has been a member of St. Luke Methodist Church in Tupelo where she was a member of the McClellan Sunday school class. She was also a part of the Altrusa Club, Order of the Eastern Star and Meal on Wheels. As her children and grandchildren were growing up Helen was involved in Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, youth activities at St. Luke Methodist and was a team mom for numerous youth sports teams. Helen had a special interest in the welfare of any senior citizen that she had the opportunity to be involved with. She loved her church and her family.   Visitation will be from 4 until 8 p.m. Sunday, January 8, 2016 at W. E. Pegues, Tupelo and one hour prior to service time Monday at St. Luke Methodist Church.   Services will be 11 a.m. Monday, January 9, 2017 at St. Luke Methodist Church with Rev. Sherry Jenkins officiating. Graveside services will follow in Tupelo Memorial Gardens.   She was survived by her four children, Jennifer Neely Baum (Vicente Munoz) of Long Beach, Lee Wayne Neely (Cathy) of Saltillo, Teresa Neely Cupit (Mike Caneer) of Dickson, Tennessee and Rachel Neely Miller (Mark) of Liberty; grandchildren, Amanda Cumberland (Nick) of Long Beach, R. J. Gonzales, III (Amanda) of Mobile, Alabama, Clint Neely (Summer) of Magnolia, Texas, Kate N. McCarty (Josh) of Scooba, Neely Cupit-Segura (Ruben) of Katy, Texas, Ryan Cupit (Jessica) of Katy, Texas, Ted Grimes of Ridgeland, Kyle Miller (Samantha) Saltillo and Jeffrey Miller of Ridgeland; great-grandchildren, Kayla Broome of Long Beach, Reese and Jay Gonzales of Mobile, Alabama, Gracyn, Hannah and Jacob T. Neely of Magnolia, Texas, Hunter and Mize McCarty of Scooba, Anthony Segura, Jordan Segura and D.J. Cupit of Katy, Texas and Abigail Neely Miller of Saltillo; sister-in-law, Evelyn Grantham and family of Birmingham, Alabama; nephews, Fred Nunnery (Shannon) and their children Colton and Rebekah, George Nunnery all of Liberty, Johnny Nunnery (Vonda) of Brookhaven and Jamie Nunnery of Smithdale; cousin, Ms. Bobbie Barron of Summit and special friends and long-time neighbors, Bob and Janie Smith of Tupelo.   She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, J. T. Neely, brother and sister-in-law, Wayne and Betty Nunnery, brother-in-law, Francis Grantham and nephew, Mike Nunnery.   Pallbearers will be grandsons, Clint Neely, R.J. Gonzales, III, Ryan Cupit, Kyle Miller, Jeffrey Miller and Ted Grimes, son-in-law, Mark Miller and nephew, Fred Nunnery.   Honorary pallbearers will be Bob Smith, Chip Peterson and Mark Rutledge.   Mrs. Neely's family wishes to thank caregiver Lawanda Chapman of Liberty and all the staff of Hospice Compassus for their compassion and love during this journey. The family would also like to thank Hartman Funeral Home in McComb for their assistance and care.   Memorials may be made to Alzheimers Foundation of America, 322 8th Ave., 7th fl., New York, NY 10001 or the J. T. Neely Scholarship Fund at Tupelo Park and Recreation Department, 499 S Gloster Street, Tupelo MS 38801.   Expressions of sympathy may be left at www.peguesfuneralhome.com .