Mary Neleigh
April 7, 2011 — March 5, 1956
Mary Catherine Neleigh, age 75, of Schertz, Texas, passed away April 7, 2011 with her family by her side. Mary was born to George B. Drown and Johanna Tomma Drown on March 5, 1936, in Emmetsburg, Iowa. She was the youngest of three siblings: George C., Eunice, and Mary. In 1947, Marys mother passed away. Later, her father remarried to Viola Munson and moved to Rolla, Missouri, where she graduated from Rolla High School in 1954. She then enlisted in the USAF, where she met her husband Charles Donald Neleigh while they were both stationed at RAFB, Texas. They married on Oct. 6, 1956 at the base chapel. Mary left the Air Force with a rank of Airman 1st Class, and had a son, Donald James Neleigh. The family moved to Keesler AFB, where she had another son, Eric Charles Neleigh. The family then moved back to Schertz in 1969. Mary was a devout Christian, who was always looking for a new challenge. She was a church secretary, sang in the church choir, was active in the PTA, was on the Schertz Library Advisory board in 1976, which was instrumental in bringing the city its first library, and earned an Associate Degree in Art from San Antonio College in 1977. She was also involved in promoting and teaching adult literacy. Mary enjoyed arts and crafts and made many quilts, afghans, paintings, crochet items, and sewing projects as well as learning to play the piano and guitar. She also enjoyed reading and writing fiction novels, assembling jigsaw puzzles, was an avid gardener, and had a fascination for rocks and fossils. She is survived by her husband, Charles; her son and daughter-in-law, Donald and Kristy Neleigh; her son, Eric; granddaughter, Courtney; and her brother, George C. She was preceded in death by her sister Eunice. Funeral services will be held at 9:30AM, on Tuesday, April 19, at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Universal City. Interment will follow at 11:00AM at Fort Sam National Cemetery.
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