Joe Marshall Neely

January 2, 1928 - April 27, 2018

Joe Neely was a life long resident of Wildwood, Georgia. He was born January 2, 1928 and passed away on April 27, 2018. He was a boiler welder, working for Combustion out of Chattanooga. He was a blacksmith, learning the craft from his father and grandfather. The sound of the hammer on the anvil is a memory of time spent with him. He was a beekeeper, a bicyclist, a birdwatcher, a ham radio operator, a square dancer, a watcher of cartoons and a reciter of poetry. He was a gardener, still planting the pumpkins passed down in his family from the time of their coexistence with the native Cherokees. And he would let you know he still preferred plowing with a mule team to a tractor. He was a baker, making sourdough loaves from scratch, a mean coconut cake and a fresh pan of biscuits every weekend morning. He was a husband, and father, and grandfather, and great-grandfather. His entire life he remained close to the land that sustained generations of his family. He was born in a cabin in the holler just a short walk from the home where he gently passed away last night. He was loved and he will be sorely missed He was preceded in death by his parents, Fran and Alma Neely, a sister Violet Neely, and his wife of nearly 40 years Faye Neely. He is also preceded in death by his companion of 20 years Carolyn Moore of Signal Mountain. He is survived by his brother Frank (Marjorie) Neely, son Marshall (Bonnie) Neely, daughter Marie Neely, son Scott (Gay) Neely all of Wildwood and 5 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Visitation is Saturday May 5, 2018 from 11am-1pm at Wildwood Methodist Church, with a memorial service immediately following. In lieu of flower the family ask that donations be made in his honor to Wildwood Methodist church.Arrangements by Ryan Funeral Home, Trenton, GA.