Catherine was born at home in Carbondale, Illinois on October 20, 1927 - the fifth child of eight children to Marion and Raleigh Gibbs. Catherine grew up on a family farm in Southern Illinois and attended schools in Carbondale, Illinois.
Catherine was an eager learner, skipping two grades and starting college at Southern Illinois University (Carbondale) at age 16. Catherine met and fell in love with returning Army Veteran, Taylor Dalmaine Neely, while in college and they married Memorial Day 1948. They had their first baby, Shirley Marie, in 1949, and proceeded to have a child born in three sequential decades. Stephen Taylor in 1953, Timothy Dalmaine in 1955, and Mary Catherine in 1965.
Catherine’s strong faith in the Lord enabled her to partner with Taylor – who became an ordained Baptist minister – through decades of Christian service together. She and Taylor served two missionary tours in the Philippines, where two of their four children were born. Catherine earned her Bachelor’s degree from Central Philippine University, after pausing her studies for over 20 years to focus on her family. During her marriage, Catherine moved more than 30 times, with over a decade in Danville, IL, and then finally settling in Carson City, NV, in 2003.
Catherine had an adventurous spirit and a strong artistic bent. She and Taylor were world travelers who climbed the Great Wall of China in retirement. Her last road trip was a 5,600-mile trek through 15 states to visit her hometown – Carbondale, Illinois – in September – October 2022. Catherine took up oil painting and stained glass for fun and excelled at both. She played piano, loved to sing, and was frequently heard throughout the house whistling her favorite hymns. She was never happier than when she was helping others, which she often went out of her way to do. She was dearly loved and will be missed by all who were blessed to know her.
Catherine was predeceased by her devoted husband of 58 years, Taylor Neely (d. 2007), by her parents, and her seven siblings.
She is survived by her four children: Shirley McCulloch of Oceanside, CA; Stephen (Donna) Neely of Omaha, NE; Timothy (May) Neely of Honolulu, HI; and Mary (Jeff) Woods of Carson City, NV.
She is survived by 10 grandchildren: Deena Ritter of West Palm Beach, FL; Catherine Yusupov of Maple Grove, MN; Christopher Neely of San Jose, CA; Andrea Synowiec of Florissant, MO; Joy Neely of Honolulu, HI; Daniel Neely of Arlington, VA; Katharyn Reece, Emily Woods, and Levi Woods of Carson City, NV, and Sarah Woods of Beaufort, SC.
She is survived by 14 great-grandchildren: Natalie Jones of Franklin, TN; Nikki Jones of Oxford, MS; Leisan, Nelya and David Yusupov of Maple Grove, MN; Taylor, Aurora, Elliott, Mabel, and Peter Synowiec of Florissant, MO; Maya and Kayla Wills of Honolulu, HI; and Avary Kurek, Olivia Reece, and Colter Woods, of Carson City, NV.
A graveside Memorial Service is planned on Catherine’s wedding anniversary – Sunday, May 28, 2023 - when her ashes will be laid to rest next to Taylor’s at the Mulberry Grove Cemetery in Illinois.
A heart-felt thank you from Catherine’s family to Eden Hospice and Deborah Montgomery ([email protected]) for providing loving and compassionate end-of-life care. And for the sympathetic and professional services provided by FitzHenry’s Funeral Home. Family contact: [email protected]
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