Thomas 'Junior' Neeley
Thomas “Junior” Neeley, 91, of Cairo, and formerly of Mound City, died at 4:40 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2022, at the Metropolis Rehabilitation & Health Care Center.
He was born on July 20, 1930, in Grand Chain, the son of James Thomas and Agnes Elenze George Neeley.
He and Myra Mohundro were united in marriage on Nov. 11, 1977. She preceded him in death on Sept. 29, 2015.
Mr. Neeley served in the U.S. Army, where he earned the rank of corporal. He served during the Korean War.
Upon honorable discharge from the Army, he went to work on the river, where he retired after close to 40 years as captain of a barge company on the Mississippi River.
He loved hunting, fishing, working jigsaw puzzles, swimming and building model ships.
He was a member of Cairo Elks Lodge No. 651 and the Tigert Memorial United Methodist Church in Cairo.
Mr. Neeley is survived by his daughter, Raelen Brown of Olmsted; two stepsons, Larry (MaryEllen) Mohundro of Cape Girardeau and Mark (Barbara) McCoy of Paducah; nine grandchildren, Olin Brownell, Sandy Austin, Josh McCoy, Scott Mohundro, Bethany Brown, Heather Copeland, Whitney (Jake) Palmisano, Katie (Derek) Miller and Mandi Waddell; 20 great-grandchildren; one brother, Ray Neeley of Lady Lake, Fla.; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Myra Neeley; two sisters, Dorothy Brust and Thelma Gardner; and a son-in-law, Marty Brown.
Funeral services for Thomas Neeley will be at noon Monday, Feb. 7, at Crain Funeral Home in Cairo, with the Rev. Larry Buckles officiating.
Interment will follow in Mound City National Cemetery, with full military honors accorded by the Illinois Honor Guard and American Legion Post No. 178.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until noon Monday, Feb. 7, at the funeral home.
Memorials can be made to the American Wildlife Conservation Foundation. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.
To view the full obituary or to leave an online condolence for the family, visit www.crainsonline.com.
Crain Funeral Home in Cairo is in charge of arrangements