Obituary of Roy NEELY

Roy Thomas Neely, 86, passed away May 29, 2007 in Lake Havasu City, AZ. He was born to Charles and Jessie (Whitworth) Neely on February 9, 1921 in Emery, TX.Roy served in the United States Navy during WWII aboard the U.S.S. Holland. He saw action in the South Pacific Theater and visited Hawaii, Australia, Midway, Guam, Saipan, Tinian and the entire Marianas chain, completing his wartime duty in Tokyo Bay at the end of hostilities between the United States and Japan.Roy's passion was flying and anything related to it. A member of AOPA since 1965, he became a flight instructor in the 50's and continued instructing until 2006. Many pilots, presently flying throughout the Southwest, owe their flight credentials to Roy. He often took his family on vacations by means of a Cessna or Piper aircraft.Roy and his family traveled extensively and lived in locations as diverse as Fairbanks, Alaska to the California desert. He lived the last thirty years in Lake Havasu City where he continued flight instruction and served on the Lake Havasu City Municipal Airport Advisory Board.Roy is survived by his beloved wife of 61 years, Muriel Neely; son, Michael Neely of Yucca Valley, CA; daughter, Nora Ellis of Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada; brother, Brody Neely of Texas; sister, Charlene Walgomat of Coquille, OR; eight grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.A memorial service will be held Saturday, June 2, 2007, 1:00 pm at Lietz-Fraze Chapel. Words of comfort and inspiration will be presented by Michael Neely and Gordon Ellis.In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Roy's name to the Heart Association of Lake Havasu, PO Box 1410, Lake Havasu City, AZ 86405-1410.Thoughts and condolences may be submitted to the family at www.lietz-frazefuneralhome.comArrangements were placed under the care of Lietz-Fraze Funeral Home & Crematory.