Evelyn L. McNeely Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Evelyn was born in Taylor, Mississippi on August 19, 1925, and she grew up with hard working parents and with three siblings close to her age. She told vivid stories of her girlhood in the country-- where milk was kept cool in a spring and where the bus to school sometimes got stuck in muddy ruts. After graduating first in her class at Taylor High, she began working at the Bank of Oxford. During the war years, she corresponded frequently with her twin brother, who served overseas in the Pacific Navy, and she did her part on the home front as a member of the Greatest Generation. Perhaps she daydreamed of romance with a bright-eyed veteran--because that is what she found when Ralph McNeely returned from the war in Europe. Ralph nicknamed her “Sunshine” because of her smile. He courted her at the bank and around Oxford, and soon they were married. She was a devoted wife of more than 61 years. And for 68 years, she was mother to her Mac, Ralph Jr., her only child and the light of her life. She raised him right--instilling in him the values of honesty, fairness, kindness, and community. After the family moved to Memphis, Evelyn’s days were busy with activities at church and school. She was proud when Mac did well in school and in sports. She did a really, really good job as a parent. Evelyn gained a daughter when Mac married sweet JoAnn, and she “was tickled” to have her two granddaughters, Chrissy and Elizabeth. She cooked them delicious crispy bacon and biscuits with Karo syrup and watched TV game shows with them. She told one of her favorite stories about playing “restaurant” with Chrissy and acting as an unhappy customer who sent the food back to the kitchen. Evelyn was a great help with the girls, watching them during summer and other breaks from school. Evelyn’s days were full as she chatted on the phone with her beloved Aunt Ethel and visited her extended family in Mississippi. She worked at the Memphis State bookstore at the start of each semester, keeping calm amid the crowds. She clipped coupons and found coins in the parking lot of the grocery store and friends inside. Evelyn loved her cable TV. She loved Hee Haw reruns and NBA basketball games-- a Mississippi girl who “rooted for” the Lakers. In her later years, Evelyn patiently nursed her husband through his final illness and maintained daily contact with her son. She enjoyed visits and pictures of her four great-grandchildren, who will remember her as sweet and peaceful. Evelyn saw the good in others and took the ethical road. She leaves a legacy of gentle care for others, rooted in her faith and family values, that will be carried on for generations to come Given the current national conditions and the family's concern for the health and well-being of others, Mrs. McNeely will be interred at Memorial Park Cemetery following a private service for the immediate family.

Evelyn L. McNeely

August 19, 1925 - April 12, 2020