Charles M. Neece

Charles M. Neece was born August 22, 1925 in Lincoln Co., son of the late Cleve and Susie Whitehead Neece. On July 14, 1962, he married Bettye Hill and they recently celebrated their 49th wedding anniversary. Charles served his country in the U.S. Army in communications after WW II. He graduated from Columbia Business College before beginning work with Mr. Tom, Mrs. Hannah and Bobby Williams at Williams Funeral Home when it was still located on West 7th Street. When the funeral home relocated to Trotwood Avenue, Charles went with them, telling a former co-worker recently that he spent the last night in the old funeral home downtown and it was a "sort of funny feeling" there that evening. Later on Charles went to work for the U.S. Postal service from which he retired after over 30 years of service. Charles was a member of First United Methodist Church of Columbia.

Charles was an avid sports enthusiast, enjoying most college sports including baseball, basketball and football. His family says affectionately that he was a died-in-the-wool Alabama Crimson Tide fan. Charles dearly loved his little daschunds and had them each on a schedule.

Charles passed away at the age of 86 on Thursday morning, September 8, at Maury Regional Medical Center surrounded by his loving and devoted family.

Survivors include his wife: Bettye Neece of Columbia; his children: Kristy Neece of Columbia and Charles Gregory "Greg" JoAnna Neece of Williamsport; one grandson whom he adored: Jody Macrae Neece of Williamsport; one brother: Floyd Pat Neece of Lewisburg; sisters-in-law: Dottie Donald Sneed of Columbia and Julie John Gilbreath of Southport and brothers-in-law: Ronald Helen Hill of Red Boiling Springs, TN and Jody Hill of Columbia. In addition to his parents, Charles was preceded in death by two brothers: Raymond Neece and William Neece and one sister: Mary Porterfield.

Funeral services for Charles will be conducted Sunday at 2:00 P.M. in the chapel of Williams Funeral Home in Columbia with Rev. Tommy Clark and Rev. Bob Vassar officiating. Burial will follow in Polk Memorial Gardens with military honors provided by the Herbert Griffin American Legion Post 19.

The family will visit with friends on Saturday from 4:00-8:00 P.M. at the funeral home.

Pallbearers will be Chet Disbro, Larry Goats, Justin Neece, Zachary Willis, Danny Hill, Tony Hill, Scott Hubbell and Ben Hubbell.

The family requests that memorial donations be made to the American Heart Association, 1818 Patterson Street, Nashville, TN 37203 or Pet Pals of Maury County, P.O. Box 1623, Columbia, TN 38402.