Panama City Beach, FL. / Big Stone Gap, Va. – Effie Irene Neeley, 92, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, at the home of her daughter Glenda in Panama City Beach, Florida.
Born in Stonega, Virginia, she was the daughter of the late Luther and Ethel (Evans) Owens. Effie made her home in Crown Point, Indiana, for 40 years before relocating to Panama City Beach, where she had lived for the past six years. She was a longtime member of Ross Baptist Church in Gary, Indiana.
Effie was passionate about cooking, reading novels, and arts and crafts—but above all, she cherished her family.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Roy C. Neeley; two sons, Larry Joe Neeley and Steven Allen Neeley; two grandsons, Steven Neeley and Robert Kolicius; a granddaughter, Dawn Robison; her niece, Donna Jurca; and her brother, Hayward Owens.
Survived by:
Siblings: Carroll (Linda) Owens, Jerry (Shirley) Owens, Wanola Horne, and Maxie McPherson
Children: Glenda Martin, Wayne (Arlene) Neeley, and Dennis Neeley
Grandchildren: Tommy Martin, Heather Lambert, Jennifer (Scott) McConnell, and Wendy Targgart
Great-grandchildren: Nicholas Robison, Andrew Robison, Taylor Martin, Draven Targgart, Kayla (Robert) Taylor, Cheyenne (Adam) Lambert, Morgan (Nico) Eason, Madison (Alana) Carta, Sage (Aiden) Targgart, and Kinsey Targgart
Great-great-grandchildren: Alice Eason, Rowan Taylor, and Crew Guerrero
She is also survived by many beloved nieces and nephews, aunts and uncles, and cousins.
The family will receive friends on Thursday, April 10, 2025, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Gilliam Funeral Home, 618 Wood Avenue W., Big Stone Gap, Va. A funeral service will follow at 1:00 p.m. with Pastor Rick Whitten officiating.
Burial will follow at Powell Valley Memorial Gardens. Family members will serve as pallbearers.
Gilliam Funeral Home and Crematory is honored to serve the Neeley family.
To view the obituary or offer condolences, please visit www.gilliamfuneralhome.com or the funeral home's Facebook page.

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”
— John 14:1–3