Odessa – Johnnie Mae O’Bryant Neely departed from this life to be with the Lord on Monday, March 11, 2013. She left this earth at the age of almost 105. How greatly she will be missed!
Johnnie was born on March 28, 1908 on a goat ranch near Vanderpool, Texas, in the home of her loving grandparents, Sidney Lee and Mary Letitia Crockett Humphreys She was the only child of John H. & Hollie Mae Humphreys O’Bryant. She was named after her dad, who passed away with typhoid fever seven months before she was born. Johnnie’s mother nearly died with asthma during her birth. Four years later a half-brother, Cecil McKinney, was born to Frank and Hollie Mae O’Bryant McKinney. Johnnie grew up on ranches and a cotton farm managed by her grandfather and some of his sons.
Johnnie was in the first graduating class of the Comstock, Texas High School. After furthering her education at Mary Hardin-Baylor College in Belton, Texas, Johnnie returned to Comstock, where she taught five grades in a one-room school. Seeking further education, Johnnie attended the University of Texas in Austin, where she met and later married Carroll H. Neely. To this union three children were born: Mary, Carroll, Jr. and Donna Neely.
In 1948, Johnnie, a single mother, moved her family from Topeka, Kansas to Alpine, Texas. Not long afterwards, in addition to raising her three children, she took in and cared for her mother and her grandmother. In 1950, after completing three years’ worth of higher education in two years, Johnnie graduated from Sul Ross State College in Alpine with a B.S. Degree in Education. She taught for ten years in Alpine Central Elementary School and later taught in Reserve, New Mexico, Midland and Pecos Texas.
Johnnie had many difficult occurrences during her lifetime. In 1943, she stayed at the bedside of her son, Carroll, Jr., throughout his painful treatment for a severe case of spinal, paralytic poliomyelitis. He almost totally recovered and later grew to a height of 6’ 2 “. In 1963, Johnnie cared for her daughter, Mary, during her terminal cancer. After Mary passed away, Johnnie helped raise Mary’s four children, while teaching school in Pecos, Texas. How very much Johnnie grieved in 1983 during the illness and death of Mary’s daughter, Kathleen, a young mother with cancer, who had two little boys. Then, in 1989, just six short years later, she once again struggled to care for her son, Carroll, Jr. during his terminal battle with cancer.
Johnnie was generous and loved giving her possessions away. She was also generous with letters of encouragement to countless relatives and friends through difficult times. She brought cheer to so many people, letting them know that she loved and cared about them. What an amazing cookie baker Johnnie was, making tray after tray of her grandmother’s tea cakes for the sick, the bereaved, shut-ins, friends and neighbors! She provided many hours of care giving for the sick and the elderly until her late 80s, when she lost the vision in one eye! Even after Johnnie became legally blind, she continued walking to the post office to mail her letters and to the homes of as many people as possible to deliver her cookies. She was a living example of faith, hope and love.
Johnnie is survived by her daughter, Donna, eight grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren and 25 great-great grandchildren.
Arrangements for Johnnie include a viewing at Hubbard Kelly Funeral Home in Odessa, Texas all day March 13th, a viewing at Alpine Memorial Funeral Home in Alpine, Texas all day March 15th. A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, March 16th, 2013 at Memorial Funeral Home in Alpine.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to Hospice House, 903 North Sam Houston, Odessa, TX 79761 or the charity of your choice.
Odessa services entrusted to Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home.
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