Neely was born on December 12, 1891, in Itawamba County, Mississippi.  He moved to Memphis and married Marguerite VanDervoort in about 1920 on Christmas Day.

Neely and Marguerite lived in Memphis for a while, then moved to Chicago.  Charles was born while they were up there.  But when the Depression hit, they moved back down to Memphis and even to Mississippi for a while.  Marguerite and Charles lived with Martha Webb Bowen for a while when Neely was working on the road.  He started doing real estate and eventually they got back on their feet and he started doing really well.  He got to a point where he was mostly buying up old plantations and reselling them.  He did very well for himself and his family.

Neely died in Memphis on November 20, 1961.  He was buried in the Memorial Park on Poplar.  Marguerite died four years later and is buried beside Neely.

Charles R. Bowen
     Private