WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — It is with great sadness that the family of Thomas William Neely Jr. announces his death after a brief illness on Saturday October 27, 2018, while visiting his daughter in Denver, Colo. 

Tom will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 51 years, K. Elaine Neely; his children, Matthew (Margo) and Brevard (Victor); and his niece Paula Brown (Mark). He will also be remembered fondly as both Papa and Dr. Green Bean by his three grandchildren, Lena, Allie and Tommy. Tom was predeceased by his sister, Marian Jefferson of Winston-Salem, N.C.

Tom was born on February 2, 1940, in Charlotte, North Carolina, to Gretta Mae (Little) and Thomas W. Neely of Pineville. He graduated from West Mecklenburg High School in 1958 and from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1962. After being drafted, he served in U.S. Army Intelligence units in Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam in 1963 and 1964. He was appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson to the U.S. Foreign Service in 1966. Tom married his New York City sweetheart Elaine at St. Patrick’s Church in Williamstown on October 14, 1967. He served as a diplomat in the Dominican Republic until 1968, at which point he and Elaine permanently relocated to her family home in Williamstown, Mass.

Following his government service, his professional career included work for several financial firms in Albany, N.Y., and Pittsfield, Mass. He managed an A.G. Edwards & Sons office in Pittsfield for many years, and later established his own company, Neely Investments, Inc., with his son, Matt, which continues operating in Williamstown. He also wrote steadily, publishing two nonfiction books about financial planning in the 1990s, and several narrative fiction books in his later years.  

Tom was beloved by hundreds of friends and family members around the world, and was considered to be a man of great character, compassion, generosity, wit and warmth. His humor, intelligence, kindness, cultural acuity and innovative sense of style will be missed by all who were lucky enough to know him. And his hugs, snuggles and scratches will be missed by the legions of dogs and cats lucky enough to call him an owner. 

Funeral notice: There will be a memorial service at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Williamstown on November 27, 2018. Donations in memory of Tom can be made to St. John’s Episcopal Church, 35 Park Street, Williamstown, MA, The Williamstown Garden Club or any local charity that helps to feed and protect animals.