Elizabeth Joe “Libby” Ward Neely, age 86, of 313 Church Street, Clifton Forge, died December 1, 2017. She was born March 17, 1931 in Scarboro, WV, a daughter of the late Leeroy and Bessie Ward. Mrs. Neely worked from the age of 12 until her retirement in 2015, including 33 years at Mizzy, Inc. and almost 15 years at Highland House. She loved decorating and cleaning homes and the church, especially her own, planting flowers and doing yard work. Libby was a charter member of the Oak Hill Bible Church. She loved her church family and church fellowship dinners. She was so thankful for the love and care God provided through her church family, with special hugs to Bonnie Mynes, Charlotte Rose, Eleanor Bruffey, and Cathy Richardson. Libby had a generous heart. She loved giving to and being with her friends. She also loved ALL little children.
In addition to her parents, Libby was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 38 years, the Rev. John David Neely, in 1990; her daughter, Carol Ann Neely, in 2015; four sisters, Madeline, Nellie, Dorothy, and Louise; and four brothers, Johnnie, Roy, Sam, and Bobby.She is survived by her granddaughter, Lisa Boone, and husband, Nathaniel, of Capitol Heights, MD; a sister, Ethel Margaret Westfall of Hinton, WV; four great-grandchildren: Antonio, Christina, DeAndre, and Keyona; two great-great grandsons: Sheldon and Malachi; and numerous nieces and nephews -- all whom she loved dearly.A Celebration of Life service will be held at 12 p.m., Friday, December 8, 2017 from the Oak Hill Bible Church, Clifton Forge with the Rev. Roger Bush officiating, assisted by the Rev. Michael Simmons and the Rev. Virgil Woodie. Interment will follow in Alleghany Memorial Park, Low Moor. The family will receive friends from 11:00 a.m. until the service at Oak Hill Bible Church, and other times at the residence, 313 Church Street, Clifton Forge.Nicely Funeral Home, Clifton Forge is handling arrangements. The family suggests memorial tributes take the form of contributions to Oak Hill Bible Church, 1601 Chestnut Street, Clifton Forge, VA 24422.