Robbie was the son of Joseph Bowden Neely, Sr. and Nettie Donnie King Neely Riley and was born at home at 309 East 35th Street at 9:50 am on Wednesday, June 29, 1927 in Savannah, Chatham County, Georgia. His stepfather was Harry Riley. His only brother was Joseph Bowden Neely, Jr. Joe and Robbie had twin brothers who were born and died before Joe and Robbie were born. Robbie and his older brother Joe were raised by their widowed mother after their father's death in 1928. The family was so poor that Robbie's childhood dream of having an electric train set was not achieved until he was an adult. Robbie's best friend was Johnny Foughner.
On August 14, 1944 Robbie married his high school sweetheart Doris Betty Douglas Neely, and Robbie and Betty had two sons, James ("Jim") Robert ("Bobby") Neely, Jr. and John Michael ("Mike") Neely. Years after their births Betty miscarried a baby girl. Robbie was an amateur photographer who won many awards for his photos. For most of his life Robbie worked as an electrician for the City of Savannah. He served in the US Army and the Merchant Marines during World War II, was a member of the Landrum Lodge # 48, F. & A. M.'s, Scottish Rite (the Masons), and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers # 508. He was the owner and operator of Airway Refrigeration prior to his retirement. Robbie loved dogs and had several, over the years, named "Queenie."
Robbie and his wife and sons lived at 523 East Bolton in Savannah in 1958. Both his mother and Betty's lived with them. In 1960 they moved to 2609 Mississippi Avenue in Savannah where, probably of a brain aneurism, he died on January 9, 2007. He had heart problems and maybe lung cancer. At his request his body was donated to science. Information about him is located in the Neely family plot at Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah. In addition to his two sons, he is survived by five grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren, and one niece. He died at age 79. Robbie's ancestry is Irish, French, English, and--through the Sarvis surname--coastal Carolina Native American.
Thanks to the Neely family for so much of this information. Any errors, however, are mine alone. Please go to the "edit" link on this site with any corrections or additions. If a closer relative than I would like to manage this burial site, please let me know.
On August 14, 1944 Robbie married his high school sweetheart Doris Betty Douglas Neely, and Robbie and Betty had two sons, James ("Jim") Robert ("Bobby") Neely, Jr. and John Michael ("Mike") Neely. Years after their births Betty miscarried a baby girl. Robbie was an amateur photographer who won many awards for his photos. For most of his life Robbie worked as an electrician for the City of Savannah. He served in the US Army and the Merchant Marines during World War II, was a member of the Landrum Lodge # 48, F. & A. M.'s, Scottish Rite (the Masons), and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers # 508. He was the owner and operator of Airway Refrigeration prior to his retirement. Robbie loved dogs and had several, over the years, named "Queenie."
Robbie and his wife and sons lived at 523 East Bolton in Savannah in 1958. Both his mother and Betty's lived with them. In 1960 they moved to 2609 Mississippi Avenue in Savannah where, probably of a brain aneurism, he died on January 9, 2007. He had heart problems and maybe lung cancer. At his request his body was donated to science. Information about him is located in the Neely family plot at Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah. In addition to his two sons, he is survived by five grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren, and one niece. He died at age 79. Robbie's ancestry is Irish, French, English, and--through the Sarvis surname--coastal Carolina Native American.
Thanks to the Neely family for so much of this information. Any errors, however, are mine alone. Please go to the "edit" link on this site with any corrections or additions. If a closer relative than I would like to manage this burial site, please let me know.
Robbie was the son of Joseph Bowden Neely, Sr. and Nettie Donnie King Neely Riley and was born at home at 309 East 35th Street at 9:50 am on Wednesday, June 29, 1927 in Savannah, Chatham County, Georgia. His stepfather was Harry Riley. His only brother was Joseph Bowden Neely, Jr. Joe and Robbie had twin brothers who were born and died before Joe and Robbie were born. Robbie and his older brother Joe were raised by their widowed mother after their father's death in 1928. The family was so poor that Robbie's childhood dream of having an electric train set was not achieved until he was an adult. Robbie's best friend was Johnny Foughner.
On August 14, 1944 Robbie married his high school sweetheart Doris Betty Douglas Neely, and Robbie and Betty had two sons, James ("Jim") Robert ("Bobby") Neely, Jr. and John Michael ("Mike") Neely. Years after their births Betty miscarried a baby girl. Robbie was an amateur photographer who won many awards for his photos. For most of his life Robbie worked as an electrician for the City of Savannah. He served in the US Army and the Merchant Marines during World War II, was a member of the Landrum Lodge # 48, F. & A. M.'s, Scottish Rite (the Masons), and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers # 508. He was the owner and operator of Airway Refrigeration prior to his retirement. Robbie loved dogs and had several, over the years, named "Queenie."
Robbie and his wife and sons lived at 523 East Bolton in Savannah in 1958. Both his mother and Betty's lived with them. In 1960 they moved to 2609 Mississippi Avenue in Savannah where, probably of a brain aneurism, he died on January 9, 2007. He had heart problems and maybe lung cancer. At his request his body was donated to science. Information about him is located in the Neely family plot at Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah. In addition to his two sons, he is survived by five grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren, and one niece. He died at age 79. Robbie's ancestry is Irish, French, English, and--through the Sarvis surname--coastal Carolina Native American.
Thanks to the Neely family for so much of this information. Any errors, however, are mine alone. Please go to the "edit" link on this site with any corrections or additions. If a closer relative than I would like to manage this burial site, please let me know.
On August 14, 1944 Robbie married his high school sweetheart Doris Betty Douglas Neely, and Robbie and Betty had two sons, James ("Jim") Robert ("Bobby") Neely, Jr. and John Michael ("Mike") Neely. Years after their births Betty miscarried a baby girl. Robbie was an amateur photographer who won many awards for his photos. For most of his life Robbie worked as an electrician for the City of Savannah. He served in the US Army and the Merchant Marines during World War II, was a member of the Landrum Lodge # 48, F. & A. M.'s, Scottish Rite (the Masons), and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers # 508. He was the owner and operator of Airway Refrigeration prior to his retirement. Robbie loved dogs and had several, over the years, named "Queenie."
Robbie and his wife and sons lived at 523 East Bolton in Savannah in 1958. Both his mother and Betty's lived with them. In 1960 they moved to 2609 Mississippi Avenue in Savannah where, probably of a brain aneurism, he died on January 9, 2007. He had heart problems and maybe lung cancer. At his request his body was donated to science. Information about him is located in the Neely family plot at Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah. In addition to his two sons, he is survived by five grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren, and one niece. He died at age 79. Robbie's ancestry is Irish, French, English, and--through the Sarvis surname--coastal Carolina Native American.
Thanks to the Neely family for so much of this information. Any errors, however, are mine alone. Please go to the "edit" link on this site with any corrections or additions. If a closer relative than I would like to manage this burial site, please let me know.
Inscription
"Body donated to medical science."
Gravesite Details
This is a cenotaph.
