LANCASTER, SCMr. Gerald Yancy McNeely, age 79, died Thursday, February 11, 2016 at Springs Memorial Hospital. He was born September 3, 1936 in Lancaster County, a son of the late George Yancy McNeely and Alene Watts McNeely and was the husband of Earline Adams McNeely. He retired from the United States Military after serving four years in the Navy and eighteen years in the North Carolina Air National Guard. He was very proud of his military service. Mr. McNeely also retired from Bowater as an electrical engineer. He was a very hard worker and a man of his word. He was a Mason with the Jackson Masonic Lodge and of the Baptist faith.
Mr. McNeely is survived by his wife of 58 years, Earline Adams McNeely, two daughters, Diana Lynne McNeely McCoy and her husband, Dan of Monroe and Rhonda Kay McNeely Brewer and her husband, Brad of Garden City; nine grandchildren, Matt and Morgan McCoy, Josh Hammond, Amanda and Jaden Brewer, Tiffany, Brittany, Ashton and Zack McNeely; and two sisters, Willie Stroupe of Lancaster and Virginia Taylor of Greenwood.
Mr. McNeely was preceded in death by a son, Michael Gerald McNeely; five brothers, Buddy McNeely, Tommy McNeely, Dallas McNeely, Edward Kelly and Bazel Kelly and two sisters; Lucille Hinson and Genevieve Rivers.
The Celebration of Life Funeral Service for Mr. McNeely will be 3:00 pm, Sunday, February 14, 2015 at The Chapel of Burgess Funeral Home by Rev. Lynn Hough. Burial with military honors will follow at Lancaster Memorial Park.
The family will receive friends from 1:30 3:00 pm Sunday at Burgess Funeral Home, 1800 Charlotte Highway, Lancaster, SC and suggest memorial contributions be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675 or to the Lancaster Childrens Home, PO Box 416, Lancaster, SC 29721.