Lester Neely

By Staff Reports

ROCK HILL -- Mr. Lester Wallace Neely, 78, passed away Monday, Jan. 5, 2009, at his residence.

A service to celebrate the life of Mr. Neely will be held 2 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 8, at the Chapel of Bass-Cauthen Funeral Home, with the Rev. Paul Pingel officiating. Interment will follow at Grandview Memorial Park on Cherry Road.

A native of Van Wyck, S.C., Mr. Neely was born Dec. 12, 1930, a son of the late John Lester Neely Sr. and the late Maude McGuire Neely. He retired from Rock Hill Printing and Finishing Company in 1990, served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict and was of the Presbyterian faith. Mr. Neely was preceded in death by a sister, Dorothy Horton and a son, Brian Neely.

Surviving are his wife, Margarett Sledge Neely; three sons, Alan Neely of McConnells, S.C., Mark Neely of Rock Hill and Scott Neely of Columbia, S.C.; two daughters, Cindy Guyton and husband, Brent of Rock Hill, Jill Pingel and husband, Paul of Columbia; a brother, John L Neely Jr. of Rock Hill; and eight grandchildren.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m., Jan. 7, at the home.

Memorials may be made to York County Humane Society, 2036 Carolina Place, Fort Mill, SC 29708.

Condolences can be e-mailed to the family at www.basscauthenfuneralhome.com.

Bass-Cauthen Funeral Home is serving the family.