Carmen Lopez Neely

When I leave you to be with my Lord, I will be dancing in heaven."

Carmen Lopez Neely, age 87, of Carmel Valley, CA passed away on March 13, 2026.

Carmen was born in Fresno, California on April 3, 1938 to Luisa Lopez (nee' Rocha), and Pasqual Martinez Lopez. Pasqual was an agricultural worker and Luisa was a dedicated homemaker. Carmen's mother tongue was Spanish, but she soon became bilingual with the help of her two older sisters, Connie and Dolores (Dee).

Carmen gained three brothers, Dennis, Pasqual, Jr., and Frank during the 1940s. For a time during World War II, the family lived in Oakland, as Carmen's maternal grandfather, Dionisio, had found steady work as a longshoreman. The family returned to the Central Valley after the war.

When Carmen was a little girl, she had a particularly close relationship with her maternal grandfather, Abuelito Dionisio, who worked as a foreman and vineyard supervisor in the grape industry in Kingsburg, and whom she often accompanied in the fields. He trusted Carmen when she was a young girl to supervise and verify the numbers of incoming trays of grapes for the harvests, which was how the workers were paid.

Her talent with and love of numbers began early. At just 13, she worked in a local retail store, first as a sales clerk and later as a cashier and bookkeeper. The trust she was given in balancing the register and handling the day's receipts helped shape what would later become her life's profession, auditing.

As an independent young woman, Carmen relocated to Soledad, CA, in the early 1960s, where she worked and later married Gordon Gutierrez, adoptive dad of Cathy. Soon after, Cathy's sister, Michelle was born. Carmen was a loving and caring mother, taking her girls to the ocean, Dennis the Menace Park, and providing books and games, as well as cooking the best baked spaghetti and tacos! Carmen could be seen driving her Volkswagen Bu

g around town as well as up Highway 101 to SJSU, where she graduated with her BS degree in Accounting in 1974.

Carmen modeled for her daughters what it was like to have a fulfilling (and demanding) career, be a wife, and a loving mother. She juggled a lot! She paved the way, inserting herself into previously male-dominated fields and industries, at a time when there were very few women working as accountants and auditors in the government (especially women of Hispanic heritage). Her family credits her fiery nature and go-getter work ethic for making way in those industries at a time when it was not common.

She had a long career involving numbers and accounting. While going to college she worked as manager and bookkeeper in a retail store in the San Joaquin Valley and later in Soledad. After getting her BS in Business Administration (Accounting), she was hired by the California State Board of Equalization in San Jose, a job she enjoyed, especially when she discovered fraud, or was able to give a refund to a small business owner.

When she met and married Otto, she left that job to follow him in his Army service. At her new home in Fayetteville, NC, she was hired as an auditor for the State of NC Department of Social Services. She later moved with Otto to Ft. Huachuca, AZ, and entered into service with the Federal Government, beginning with the Army Audit Agency.

Of special note was the fact that she cleared extremely stringent security investigations and had the highest clearances in the Department of Defense. She caught the eye of CIA recruiters and was offered a promotion and training responsibilities for new CIA auditors. She thrived there serving under three directors, including our own Californian Leon Panetta, whom she admired greatly.

When she and Otto retired to Monterey, she still kept all of the financial, investment, and record-keeping responsibilities firmly under her control, much to Otto's delight. Planning for the future was in Carmen's nature and after 10 years she suggested they should find a good retirement community on the Central Coast and after a year of scouting and visiting many locations they selected Carmel Valley Manor.

Carmen accompanied Otto around the world to different assignments in the Army. This travel continued after Otto retired from the Army. She loved traveling with Otto and living in new and interesting places. In every environment she continued to work and thrived.

Several years after marriage, Carmen gave birth to a miracle child. At 43 years of age a beautiful redhead with blue eyes was born. Jennifer Louise Irene Neely, her name a tribute to her two grandmothers. Otto was deployed to South Korea and Carmen promised she would bring Jennifer to visit every three months. Sadly Jennifer died before the second visit. The Army brought Otto home from Korea and relocated them to Ft Huachuca Arizona where Carmen returned to the Army Audit Agency and established a chapter of the Bereaved Parents Society to deal with her grief and help many others at the Base and surrounding communities.

Later when Otto was again assigned to South Korea, Carmen went to the Auditor General and demanded to be assigned to Korea so she could be near him. On every reassignment Otto had, Carmen pulled up stakes and got herself reassigned or moved to a different job to be with Otto. When Otto retired from the Army and began working in the Aerospace Industry, he followed Carmen's career moves and relocated. Togetherness and career opportunities worked hand in hand for the next 20 years. During all of this time, Carmen fostered family togetherness, trips together, reunions, and many visits. Children and family were paramount beneficiaries of Carmen's love.

At age 64, Carmen retired from over 30 years of public service with the State of California, the State of North Carolina, and various other US Government agencies. She ultimately retired from the Central Intelligence Agency where she had most recently been assigned in Southern California.

Carmen was preceded in death by her grandfather, Dionisio Rocha, parents, Pasqual and Luisa Lopez, infant daughter, Jennifer Neely, and siblings Mary (who died as a toddler), Pasqual, Jr., Frank, and Dolores (Silva).

Carmen is survived by her husband, Otto Neely, two daughters, Cathy and Michelle Gutierrez, grandchildren, Ruth (Eric Neimy) and Ari Lichtenberger, her son-in-law, Karl Lichtenberger, former son-in-law, Kim Roy, great-grandsons, Cyrus and River Neimy, siblings Connie Sansinena and Dennis Lopez, as well as her stepsons, Bryan (Beth) and Christoper Neely, and their children and grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

She will be remembered for her strong faith, love of family, generosity, loyalty, kindness and tenacity.

On Friday April 3rd (Carmen's Birthday) Family / close friends viewing 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. at Struve and Laporte Funeral Home in Salinas. Graveside Service and Burial 12:00 p.m. at the Salinas Garden of Memories. Lunch following in Salinas for burial attendees.

There will be a Community Memorial Service at Carmel Presbyterian Church at 11:00 a.m .on Saturday April 18th followed by a light meal and fellowship. Family, friends, community members, residents and staff of Carmel Valley Manor, members of St. Dunstan's Church and others who knew her are invited.

The family would like to thank the staff and care team at Carmel Valley Manor, including nurses, nursing assistants, support care attendants, activity director, chefs, landscapers, maintenance workers, cleaning staff, and the hospice care team, including nurses, social workers, and generous volunteers. Thank you to all of the family who came to visit and care for her in her final months. They contributed such deep love, which enveloped her as she transitioned to the next life.

Funeral Arrangements by Struve and Laporte Funeral Home.

Online condolences to www.struveandlaporte.com