Gail Rae Neff

1944 - 2016

Neff Gail Rae Neff, age 71, of Columbus, Ohio, passed away on Thursday, August 18, 2016, surrounded by her loving family. Gail was born in Williamsport, PA, on September 6, 1944, to Russell C. and Jean A. (Calland) Neff, the first child in a family of six. Gail had a long and successful career in the field of computer technology. She entered the field in the era of the large mainframe computers and advanced through the years to become an expert systems analyst. While working, she also studied and received her B.S. degree (Summa cum Laude) in English from the University of Cincinnati. Even though she excelled in her corporate life, her interest in creative writing drew her back to school and she enrolled as a full time student at Miami University to pursue a master's degree in English in 1987. She held a teaching assistantship and received the best teacher award for recognition of her outstanding performance as a teaching assistant. She also edited and published the Oxford Magazine while studying for her degree. She completed her professional career working in the field of web-based training design and deployment for the State of Ohio. She was preceded in death by her father Russell, her mother Jean, and sister Sally L. (Neff) Hamel. Gail was a loving, generous, and supportive sister and aunt. She was devoted to her nieces and nephews. She loved to cook and her home was the epicenter for family gatherings and parties. Gail was always up for anything and opened her home to all who wanted to gather and enjoy time together. Her home was designated "St. Gail's 5-star Grub Shack". All anyone had to do was say "Grub Shack tonight!" and she was all in. She had two nicknames, Cricket, (given to her by her grandfather, PaPa) and Giggles, because of her infectious laugh. She is survived by three sisters and one brother, Carol A. (Lloyd) Davis, Paul W. (Nancy) Neff II, Kay Calland (Eric) Parthemore, and Susan G. Coleman; her nieces and nephews, Eric A. (Ann) Parthemore, Casey K. Parthemore, Ross W. (Ali) Parthemore, Addison K. (Jarrett) Shedd, Cassidy M. Coleman, Kathryn A. Coleman, Benjamin S. Coleman, Tyler M. Hamel, and Kimberly A. Davis; great nephew, Samuel L. Davis, and "adopted sister" cousin Kieren Metts. She has two surviving aunts, Ann Calland and Marti Calland; and a large extended Calland family. A Celebration of Life will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to PBS or the Franklin Co. Humane Society in memory of Gail. TTFN.