Joe N. Neely

JOE N. NEELY, a stalwart, loving presence in the lives of his family and friends, passed away at his home in Plano, Texas, surrounded by his children, on December 23, 2022, after a valiant battle with cancer. Joe’s personal and professional journey as a man of strong faith and dedicated service to the education of Texas’ schoolchildren was an inspiration to all who knew him. But along with his faith, it was family that formed the core of his life. Thirty-five years ago Joe married Mary Carmyn Neely and together they built a tightly-knit blended family. He leaves to her and their three children and seven grandchildren a legacy of love, joy, faithful companionship and decades of happy memories.

Born on June 5, 1946, in Bonham, Texas, Joe’s parents, Robert and Mavis Neely, imbued the importance of Christian values, a strong work ethic and education in him and his two brothers and sister. After matriculating through the Bonham public schools, Joe went on to earn bachelors and masters degrees at East Texas State University in Commerce, while embarking on a career in public education that included superintendencies in the Sam Rayburn, Cedar Hill and Rockwall independent school districts. In 1983 Joe earned his Ph.D. from The University of Texas at Austin, following his selection for its highly-touted superintendency program. At the state level, Joe was an advisor to Governor Bill Clements and later served as Deputy Commissioner of Education under Commissioner Mike Moses and Governor George W. Bush. In these roles, he did groundbreaking work shaping advancements in school finance. Joe also served as the Director of the Region 17 service center in Lubbock prior to his TEA appointment.

In 1966, Joe married his high school sweetheart, Nancy Williams Neely, also of Bonham, and they had and raised daughter Kristi and son Chris until Nancy’s death in 1982.

After Joe and Carmyn’s relocation from Austin to Dallas in the late 1990s, they became active members at Lover’s Lane United Methodist Church, where they co-taught a Sunday school class for many years and made a host of lifelong friends. Following his retirement from public service, Joe was asked to serve as the Chief Operating Officer for Lover’s Lane, and guided the church through capital campaigns that facilitated the growth of the church campus and ensured the long-term stability of its missions of service both in the Dallas area and abroad.

Joe is preceded in heaven by his parents, Mavis and Robert, and first wife Nancy. He is survived by his wife, Mary Carmyn McKinney Neely, brother Jerry and wife Elvie, sister Linda Norris and husband Nolan, and brother Don; his children Kristi Neely Mikkelsen and husband Mark; Chris Neely and wife Robin, and stepson Craig Douglas. Joe was also blessed with seven adoring grandchildren: Megan Mikkelsen Almond and husband Graham, Mason Mikkelsen, Chloe Neely, Oliver Neely, Gray Douglas,and Cambell and Griffin Carpenter.

Services for Joe will be held at Lover’s Lane United Methodist Church at 9200 Inwood Road, Dallas, Texas, 75220, on Thursday, January 5, 2023, at 10:00 a.m., with a reception at the church to follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that Joe be remembered with donations to the Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.