Leslie Jean Neely's Obituary
Leslie Jean Neely, 85, of Hallsville, TX passed away May 18, 2024. Jean was born on November 7, 1938 in Wagoner, Oklahoma to Clyde and Helen Downing.
Jean was mother to four children and was a ‘spare mom’ to many others. As her children became older, she was involved in activities and civic organizations relevant to youth, including PTA, Camp Fire, Boy Scouts and Methodist Youth Fellowship. She also was particularly drawn to work with the needy and homeless.
Jean loved family get-togethers, especially camping and camping at the beach. Those times were filled with silliness, dancing and singing, plus mighty good food. She was an excellent cook and enjoyed preparing goodies for most any occasion, and, she literally had an award-winning pecan pie.
Jean enjoyed following her favorite sports teams, the Arizona Wildcats, those Oklahoma Sooners and the Texas Rangers. She also enjoyed keeping in touch with her lifelong friends and other friends she made through online Eagle Watching groups.
Jean worked most of her life as a respiratory therapist, entering this field during it’s first years. Later in her career, she went into another related new field of healthcare, sleep study.
Jean was preceded in death by two sons, Christopher Allen Neely and James Charles Neely. Left to cherish her sweet memory are one son Richard Andrew Neely and daughter, Mary Elizabeth (Libby) and husband Mike Neely, and numerous grand and great grand children, other family members and friends.
A very special thank you to Accent Care Hospice and Whispering Pines staff for the love and care given to Jean and her family during this difficult time.
A visitation will be held Saturday, June 1st from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM at Rader Funeral Home 1617 Judson Road, Longview. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the East Texas Food Bank or Highway 80 Rescue Mission. Cremation arrangements are under the care of Rader Funeral Home in Longview.
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