ERLA NEELY

Fair Play – Erla Woodfin Neely was born on January 3, 1940 in Rockford, Alabama to the late Clyde and Lois Woodfin. Erla attended Coosa County Schools, graduating from high school in 1958. Before leaving Alabama, she worked for Russell Mills, got married, and had two children; Sharon and Dale Patterson. She moved to Tennessee and then to Bartlesville, Oklahoma, where she lived for 16 years. In addition to working for Phillips Petroleum in Bartlesville, Erla ventured into the antiques and collectables business, a passion she pursued for more than 40 years and was considered an expert in her field. In Bartlesville, she met and married James Lynn; she also met her life-long friend Gail Inman who shared her passion for the antiques and collectables business.

In 1993, after her husband retired, they moved to Fair Play, South Carolina and built a house on the shores of Lake Hartwell. Erla truly enjoyed fishing, bowling, square dancing, and her antique business. After her husband James’ death in 1996, she remained in Fair Play. Erla met her husband Ives Neely at their bowling league in 2005 and they married in 2006. They were very active and enjoyed their retirement thoroughly, often wondering how they ever had time to work.

Erla was preceded in death by her parents; her son Kenneth Dale Patterson of Bartlesville, OK; her sister Annette Hadley of Bartlesville, OK; and, three brothers, Charles Everett, Billy Joe, and Jack Clyde Woodfin, all of Rockford, AL.

Erla is survived by a large number of grieving friends and family who will miss her strength and generous spirit, including the following: her daughter, Sharon Patterson of Rio Vista, CA; her husband Ives Neely of Fair Play, SC; three step daughters, Donna Jones of Pinellas Park, FL, Gail Forshee of Charlotte, NC, and Charlene Harper of Midlothian, VA; lifelong friends Gail Inman of Bartlesville, OK, Sherri Alvey and Deanna Beard of Fair Play; as well as numerous grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins. Erla will be laid to rest with her parents in Rockford, AL; a celebration of life in Fair Play will be held at a later date.

SANDIFER FUNERAL HOME IS ASSISTING THE NEELY FAMILY