- Date Of Birth: September 28, 1926
- Date Of Death: May 16, 2009
- State: Illinois
Cleo E. Neally, 82, of Jacksonville, IL and formerly of Meredosia, IL died Saturday, May 16, 2009 at Passavant Area Hospital in Jacksonville.
He was born Sept. 28, 1926 in Carthage, the son of Frank and Lillian Morgan Neally. He married Ida Mae Stevens Dukes on Dec. 2, 1950 in Fairmount and she survives.
He is also survived by two sons, Ron (Candee) Dukes of Payson and David (Kathleen) Neally of Brentwood, TN.; one daughter, Linda Newman of Jacksonville; fifteen grandchildren, Damon (Christian) Dukes, Michelle Dukes, DeAnne (Tony) Finley, Devan (Shawn Caldwell) Neally, Danica (Wesley) Rexroat, Jessica (Matt) Bullard, Heather (Jamie) Evans, Joshua Newman, Roger (Tonya) Newell, Aaron (Lisa) Newell, Carolyn Market, Kaitlin and Jake Forczek, Garrett and Jamie Shores; twenty-five great-grandchildren; two sisters, Shirley (Jim) Newell of Hawthorne, CA., and Dorothy (Glenn Stello) Mowrer of Lewiston; one brother, Phillip (Annie) Neally of Sarasota, FL. He was preceded in death by one son, Ed Stump Neally; three brothers, Frank Brud Neally, Jr. (surviving wife, Pat), Raymond and Henry Hankie Morgan; and two sisters, Cerise Durham and Mildred Walsh.
Mr. Neally was a graduate of Carthage High School and served with the U.S. Navy during WW II and Korean War. He was a member of V.F.W. Post 5117 and American Legion Post 74, Meredosia Historical Society and Denver Christian Church. He began his career with the Wabash Railroad, as a telegrapher, and 41 years later retired as a Norfolk Southern Agent manning a computer. During his years with the railroad he became quite a collector of railroad antiques. He even dismantled the Carthage Depot and restored it as a cabin at Smith Lake in Meredosia, with the help of his sons. While his passion for railroading was great, his passion for his family was even greater. He was involved in all aspects of his children and grandchildrenâ??s lives, be it school, scouting, sports or teaching his woodworking skills. Known as Papa Shorty to some and Pood to others, his quick wit and sense of humor will be missed by all who knew him.
