Paula Sue Neely

Paula Sue Neely, beloved wife, mother, sister, and friend, passed away on April 22nd, 2023, at the age of 74. Paula passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones after a long, courageous battle with Parkinson’s Disease and dementia.

Paula was preceded in death by her beloved parents and older sister, Gwendolyn Bailey. She is survived by her husband of over 46 years Michael Neely; daughters Erin Neely, Lauren Pfeifer (Chuck) and Allison McGrath (Patrick); her twin sister Paulette Cook (James); brother Mark Bates (Nancy); sister-in-law Ann Mitchell (Steve) and Marilyn Sullivan. numerous loving nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews.

Paula was born July 5th, 1948 in Tulsa, Oklahoma to Gwendolyn Lewis Bates and Thurman Paul Bates, arriving before her twin sister, Paulette, whom she always like to remind that she was 6 minutes older. She grew up in Wichita, Kansas and Moore, Oklahoma. Paula loved music and was an active member of her school’s glee club. Even dementia could not erase her love for singing her high school’s fight song “Moore, Moore, school we all adore…”.

A love for learning guided her to a career in education. Paula received her Bachelor’s of Education from East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma and continued on to University of Oklahoma where she received her Master’s Degree in Reading. Paula worked as a teacher in Maryland, Florida, and Oklahoma before moving with her husband to St. Louis, Missouri and starting a family. While raising her three young daughters, Paula tried her hand at being a businesswoman and operated a maternity and children’s resale shop called “The Mother Goose”. After moving to San Antonio in 1998, Paula returned to teaching as a substitute and eventually full-time for NEISD.

She loved any reason to party and never met a margarita she would turn down. She loved having lunch with her Bell Babes group in her early years in San Antonio and later was a regular at Life Timers meetings at Woodland Baptist Church. Paula was passionate about reading and was always excited to share a good book recommendation with others or read to the children in the church nursery. Despite her Parkinson’s Diagnosis, Paula remained incredibly active in life by taking part in fitness classes, riding her stationary bike, going on walks, and participating in support and advocacy groups for people diagnosed with Parkinson’s.

Paula was a remarkable woman who touched many lives with her kind heart and generous spirit. She will be deeply missed but we take comfort knowing she is pain free and by the Lord’s side able to walk once again. Her legacy will carry on through her loved ones who will live life to the fullest in her honor.

A celebration of Paula’s life is scheduled for 1 pm on June 24th, 2023, at Woodland Baptist Church, 15315 Huebner Rd. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundation (The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research)or The BCFS Health and Human Services (Discover BCFS).