Mary Lou Neff

Mary Lou Neff, 95, of Columbus, passed away peacefully on July 29, 2024. She was born on April 4, 1929, in Salesville, Guernsey County, Ohio, the only child of Walter Elmer Day and Eunice Jane (Hanna) Day. Mary Lou was raised on the same farm in Salesville where her father was born.

Mary Lou graduated from Old Washington High School in 1946 and from Office Training School in Columbus, which is where she met her husband Willis D. “Bill” Neff, whom she married in 1948. Bill preceded Mary Lou in death in 2004.

Mary Lou worked as a legal secretary, church secretary, and also as an executive assistant at The Ohio State University, which was a perfect position as she was an avid OSU football fan.

Bill and Mary Lou were serious collectors of early American antiques. They spent years restoring a log house in Noble County, Ohio, which was built by her great-great-grandfather in 1827 and which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. There they spent weekends tending their orchard, garden, beehives, barn and horse. They also enjoyed traveling throughout the United States with their Airstream trailer, always accompanied by their beloved dog and cat companions.

Mary Lou is survived by her daughters Diane Rapaport of Arlington, Massachusetts, and Karen (Ronald) Marsh of Manistee, Michigan. She is also survived by her grandchildren Cary Rapaport of Lier, Belgium, Matthew Marsh of Longmont, Colorado, Bradley Marsh of Harker Heights, Texas, Brian Marsh of Troy, Ohio, Star Bragg of Bloomington, Indiana, and Steve Marsh of Salina, Kansas.

Her family would like to thank Mary Lou’s loving caregivers from National Church Residences at Harmony Trace in Hilliard, Ohio, and First Community Village in Upper Arlington, Ohio, as well as her wonderful hospice team. Mary Lou’s final resting place is at Friends Cemetery, Quaker City, Ohio.