After a long and very happy life, Marguerite Elizabeth Nelson Neely, age 98, left this world for the next, moving on to the Kingdom of Heaven to join her loving husband of 65 years, Leonard Charles Neely. Marguerite was born on July 4, 1920 to parents John Clinton Nelson and Germaine Clotilde Ranty. She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her sister Suzanne Steinbach, her brother John Roy Nelson and her great-granddaughter Alexandra Nicole Neely. Marguerite is survived by her sons L.C. Chaz Neely (wife Trisha) and John Nelson Neely (wife Susan), and by her daughters Suzanne Elizabeth Neely and Barbara Hasslocher Neely. Her grandchildren, who called her Mimi, are L. C. Trey Neely, Alison Stone, Bradford Neely, Duke Stevens, Ellen Hasslocher, Robert Hasslocher, Mary-Margaret Hasslocher and W. Cullen Neely. Great grandchildren surviving are Taylor Neely, Neely Stone, Duke Stevens III, Lauren Stevens, Lorelei Neely, Lucas Neely, Ellie Hasslocher, Scarlett Hasslocher and Evan Wetzel. Savannah Neely is her surviving great-great granddaughter.
Marguerite began her life in Illinois but moved to San Antonio as a very young girl. She attended Brackenridge High School and graduated in 1938, married her devoted husband Leonard shortly thereafter and began raising her family. While she enjoyed travel and adventure thorough out her life, her greatest pleasures came from being close to her home and surrounded by her extended family. She enjoyed family outings to the Neely family home in Sabinal, trips to the Hill Country, going to Rockport to fish and to Lake Placid to boat. She was happy anywhere that her large extended family was.
Anyone that knew Marguerite for any amount of time knew that she loved to talk. There were no uncomfortable silences in a room that had Marguerite in it. She was very up to date on current events and could pivot effortlessly from topic to topic. Some big talkers do not take time to listen to others. This was not the case with Marguerite. She was a good listener and she retained details of events and conversations amazingly well, even to the end of her life.
God blessed Marguerite with the gift of health through much of her life. Her husband Leonard died 16 years before she did, but the girl that had gotten married at 18 was able fend for herself quite well. She lived independently in her own home until she was well into her 90s. She was sharp as a tack mentally throughout most of her life and she kept her physical health as well. During a rare hospital stay in 2018 the doctor asked when she had last been in a hospital and she said it was when her last daughter was born, about 60 years prior. The doctor also asked what medications she was on and she said, “nothing.” He thought she couldn’t hear him and he raised his voice and asked again. Marguerite told the doctor that she heard him fine and that she sometimes took a Tylenol; that was it. She was able to enjoy the last Christmas with family before her health quickly faded. Her passing was quite peaceful.
The family would extend a special thank you to her caregivers Elizabeth Delarosa and Martha Ayala, who took care of Marguerite for the past 3 and a half years, and whom she dearly loved. Martha told the family that Marguerite never complained, not ever. She was a loving person.
A private graveside service, for family only, will be held at Sunset Memorial Park at 3 PM on Tuesday, February 5. Marguerite’s nephew, Methodist minister Phillip Steinbach will officiate at the service.
