Sue Ann Neff

1943 - 2022

Sue Ann (Juday) Neff, 78, of Crossville, TN, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by dear friends and family on Nov. 13 in Crossville, TN following a long illness.

Sue was born to Harold and Kathryn (LeCount) Juday in Wolf Lake, IN on March 10, 1943. After graduating from Syracuse High School in 1961, she attended Wittenberg College (Springfield, OH) and Manchester College (North Manchester, IN), where she received a B.S. in Elementary Education, before going on to receive an M.A. in Education with a Major in Elementary Education and a Minor in Special Education (Teaching Neurologically Impaired/Learning Disabled) from Ball State University (Muncie, IN). On August 20, 1966, Sue married Kenneth E. Neff, her loving husband of nearly 45 years before preceding her in death on August 18, 2011. She was also preceded in death by a sister, Mary Jo Juday of Ft. Wayne, IN.

She is survived by three children: Katie Hallcomb (Bill) of Cookeville, TN; Michael Neff (Francois) of Chicago, IL; and Judy Neff (Mark Drauszewski) of Chesterfield, VA; three grandchildren: Drew Sorkin of Cookeville, TN; Elizabeth Drauszewski and Lydia Drauszewski, both of Chesterfield, VA. Also surviving are a brother, John Juday (Karin) of Raleigh, NC; her loving, devoted companion of more than nine years, J.D. Wright of Oakdale, TN, and four nieces and five nephews.

She taught in the Wabash/Grant County communities for over 30 years. She spent the final 25 years of her career teaching Learning Disabilities at Jones Middle School in Marion, IN before her retirement in 2004. Sue highly prized the time she spent tutoring her most disabled students and supporting the Special Olympics. She was a resident of the Marion community for more than 38 years before retiring and moving to the Fairfield Glade (FFG) community in Crossville, TN. Sue remained active in her retirement years, becoming a fixture of civic life in the FFG and Crossville communities, serving on the board of directors of the Shepherd's Little Flock Daycare at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church from 2007-2017, her true labor of love in retirement.

Sue's greatest joy in life was her family. Whether involving and shepherding her own kids through 10 years of 4-H, taking her grandson to Autumn Acres in the fall, or attending her granddaughters' soccer games, Sue was at her happiest when she was actively supporting those she loved, and considered one of her greatest accomplishments that all three of her children graduated from college. High-spirited and fun-loving, Sue cared for and valued her friendships deeply. A cadre of life-long friends from Indiana frequently visited Sue in her adopted state following her retirement.

A memorial service is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Friday, July 22 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Wabash, IN (1500 S. Wabash St.) with a light luncheon to follow. There will be a period of visitation preceding the memorial service at 10:30. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Sue's life.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Trinity Lutheran Church, the Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation, the CurePSP non-profit organization, or a charity of the donor's choice.