Dorothy E. Neely

Washington, D.C. - Dorothy E. Neely of Washington, passed Sunday, Jan. 13, 2013.

She is the beloved mother of Judi L. Neely and Dr. Edward T. Neely Jr., U.S. Col. (retired) and doting grandmother of Emory and Andrew Neely. Dorothy was born in Houston, Texas and had two siblings, Samuel (deceased) and Cordelia McIntyre, wife of Gen. Lester McIntyre, USAF (retired), who survives Dorothy.

She excelled in school and attended college at Texas Southern University in the early 1940's and, as a young adult, joined the Zeta Phi Beta sorority and the Order of the Eastern Star. She was also an active member of the Antioch Baptist Church in Houston, Texas. After graduating, she taught home economics at Jack Yates High School in Houston, Texas from the late 1940's to the mid 1950's. She married Edward T. Neely Sr., himself a Mason and career Navy noncommissioned officer, and moved to Connecticut, eventually settling in Ledyard. They remained married for 51 years, until Ed's death in 2006.

Dorothy taught science and math at Buckeley School in New London in the 1960's and later returned to her first interest, home economics, at Fitch Junior High School in Groton. After seeing the manifest need for more counseling in the Groton school system, she returned to college, this time at UConn, obtaining a master's degree in guidance counseling in 1970. She then moved on to Fitch Senior High School, counseling and mentoring students until her retirement in 1980. As such, she was a teacher and counselor of young people for over 30 years.

She embodied strong moral character and an indomitable spirit. She was especially fond of music, dancing, and theater. She served as secretary and trustee emeritus of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Trust Fund. She devoted many years in service to others and was an active member of Ledyard-Gales Ferry Baptist Church, as well as a baking and crafts judge for the annual Ledyard Fair. She especially enjoyed creating dolls and teddy bears and giving them away to friends and family. Some of her creations are still cared for some 30 years later. About 20 years after her retirement, Dorothy and Ed moved from Connecticut to Leisure World in Silver Spring, Md.

A gathering of the family will receive friends from 10 a.m. until the start of the service at 11 a.m., at the Nineteenth Street Baptist Church, 4606 16th St. NW, Washington, DC 20011.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Trust Fund, P.O. BOX 1308, New London CT 06320-1308.

Interment will be at 3 p.m. Feb. 15, at Arlington National Cemetery.