Arthur L. (Buck) McNelly

McNelly, Arthur L. (Buck) ?age 90, of South Knoxville, went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, November 1, 2005 at Sevier County Healthcare Center. He was born August 15, 1915 in Seymour, Tennessee. He was a member and deacon of Stock Creek Baptist Church and served his church as an usher, Benevolent Committee member and worked in the nursery with his wife for several years. He retired from Rohm & Haas. Buck was a lifelong outdoorsman enjoying years of trout fishing in Tellico River and yearly pheasant hunting trips to Nebraska. He bagged his trophy deer in 1980 at Chuck Swan Game Reserve. Buck and Velma spent many evenings driving the loop in Cades Cove. Vegetable gardening was his favorite hobby. Nothing made him happier than sharing the fruits of his labor with family and friends. Preceded in death by parents, John McNelly and Lydia Cruze McNelly Townsend; sisters, Geneva Pridemore and Ruth Elliott; and brother, Elmer Townsend. Survived by wife, Velma Elliott McNelly; daughter and son-in-law, Peggy and James A. Thomas; grandchildren and families, Dicky and Linda Thomas, Ryan and fianc?e, Julie England, Blake and Zac; Donny and Belinda Thomas, Joshua and wife, Shelly and Megan; Teresa Thomas, Chad and Kayley Smith; Dean and Sheri Thomas, Kyler, Daniel, Austin, Keyton and Sydney; brothers, Jake McNelly and Robert Townsend; sister, Dorothy Walters. The family wishes to express their heartfelt gratitude to the staff of Sevier County Healthcare Center for their loving care of Buck, especially the Skilled Care Wing. Funeral service will be held 7 PM on Thursday, Berry Funeral Home Chapel, Pastor Gene Wood and Rev. Benji Fowler officiating. Family and friends will meet at Stock Creek Cemetery on Friday for 11 AM interment services. In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions to the Cerebral Palsy Center of Knoxville, 241 E. Woodland Avenue, Knoxville, Tennessee 37917. The family will receive friends from 5-7 PM on Thursday at Berry Funeral Home, Chapman Highway.