Shirley Joann McNeilly

On Saturday, January 27, surrounded by her loved ones, Shirley Joann McNeilly of Newcastle received a life-long wish to see her Savior face to face along with many, many cherished loved ones. Shirley was born May 21, 1934 to Lena Addington Monroe and Paul Monroe. Shirley was blessed to be married to her high school sweetheart and life-long love Dean Clair McNeilly for 53 years. Together they built and operated Cedar Creek Golf Course and McNeilly Oil and Gas Trucking Company. They raised three daughters with strong faith, a great love for God, and a tremendous amount of laughter. Shirley's greatest joy was sharing her faith with others. She taught Sunday School for 45 years, training union classes, Girls in Action, Vacation Bible School, Backyard Bible Club, Women's Missions, the church nursery, and was heavily involved with the church youth group. She had a gift of reaching out and touching the lives of total strangers, who would pour their hearts out to her in the grocery store, gas stations, sporting events, etc. Her family has been privileged to see her counsel, pray for, and love hundreds of people in this way over the years. She somehow made everyone she came in contact with know that they were loved and that she cared about them. If there was anything her children or grandchildren were involved in, Shirley would be there: from home room mother, music programs and competitions, 4-H leader, Share the Fun, cheer-leading events, to countless football, basketball, and baseball games. She loved making costumes or backdrops for plays and programs and chaperoning class field trips. Shirley was also involved in many community civic organizations and could often be found organizing charity drives. Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, Lena and Paul Monroe; her in-laws, Opal and Lester McNeilly; her husband, Dean McNeilly; daughter, Debra Dean McNeilly; sister and brother-in-law, Beverlee and Dallas Morgan; sister, Pal Myra Booth; sister and brother-in-law, Paulena and Grant Grady; brother, Roger Monroe; nephew, Rocky Staats; niece, Ricky Staats; niece, Dallas Gail Dilly; and great nephew, Zane Peery. She is survived by her daughter Toni McNeilly; daughter and son-in-law, Amy and Randy Brooks; daughter and son-in-law, Andrea and Danny Tucker; and grandchildren Lacey and Matt Reikowsky, Tyler Dean Tucker, Katie and Greg Pallone, Nick and Rachel Brooks, Andrew and Lacy Brooks, Landrey Brooks, Baylee Biggerstaff, and Alexis McNeilly. Shirley's great-grandchildren are Addison Reikowsky, Kinsley Brooks, Lilly Jo Brooks, and Benjamin Brooks. It was the satisfaction of her life knowing that all her children and grandchildren came to know and love the Lord. Because of her legacy, her grandchildren will ensure that their babies are raised to know and love God as much as she did. We will gather to honor her life at the First Baptist Church of Newcastle, Saturday February 3, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. with the Rev. Brent A. Parsons officiating. Interment will be at the Blanchard Cemetery following the ceremony. Arrangements are being handled by the Wilson-Little Funeral Home in Newcastle. Send online condolences @www.wilsonlittle.com. The family would love you to be there with us for this special time. In lieu of flowers it was Shirley's wish that anyone reading this would please share the love of Christ with someone today. If you do not know Christ, Shirley would like for you to visit this link to find out how to have eternal life. http://www.sbc.net/knowjesus/theplan.asp. "I have fought the good fight, I have stayed the course, I have kept the faith." 2nd Timothy 4:7.

Shirley Joann McNeilly

May 21, 1934 - January 27, 2018