David Neely

David Neely, 78, of Austin, husband of the late Jackie Glosson Neely, passed away on Saturday morning, May 18th, at his home in Austin, Texas.

David was born on July 30th, 1945, in Rock Hill, South Carolina, to the late Virginia Neely and was raised in Calhoun Falls, South Carolina, by his mother Virginia Neely Chrisley and father the late Larry “Crack” Chrisley. David was the oldest of five children and he dearly loved his three younger sisters: Denice, Faye and Beth, and younger brother Don.

David was a proud graduate of Calhoun Falls High School and maintained a close lifelong friendship with his many classmates and fellow Flashes. He spoke often and fondly of his friends from his hometown.

After graduating, David joined the United States Air Force, where he was transferred to Austin Bergstrom AFB in Austin, Texas. He quickly rose to a sergeant in the 75th Security Police Squad (TAC) Tactical Air Command.

Upon completion of his military service commitment, David immediately joined the Austin Police Department Academy and completed his training in December of 1968 as part of the 36th Austin Police Department Cadet Class.

David loved being a police officer and rose to become a Sergeant in the Armed Robbery Department, eventually retiring as a Senior Sergeant in the Repeat Offenders Program (ROP). He had many wonderful friendships forged during his years in the APD and spoke so frequently of his brothers and sisters in blue that his children grew up knowing their names and hearing the many stories about their time together as officers.

David loved playing golf with his family and many friends and spent as much time on the golf course as he could. He loved the University of Texas Longhorns and held season basketball tickets for many decades, frequently taking his son, son-in-law, grandchildren, and his friends to games with him. But David’s favorite pastime was sitting on his front porch with Jackie, drinking coffee at any time of day, and talking about their grandchildren.

David and Jackie were hands-on grandparents and regularly had their grandchildren over for 7-11 Slurpee runs, backyard cookouts, and to be “spend the night” babies. They helped raise their six grandchildren and especially their great-grandson Luke…whom they adored. Their grandchildren were the highlights of their lives.

David and Jackie were incredibly generous people who would do anything for anyone they knew needed help. They worked hard their entire lives and saved hard because they always wanted to be able to help anyone in need. David helped organize yearly golf fundraisers in Austin, through the ADP, to raise college scholarship money for disadvantaged and deserving Austin youth.

David and Jackie spent 46 years at their home on Grist Mill Cove in Austin, and they always said they had the best street in Austin with the absolute best neighbors. They were especially close to their neighbors Martha and John. They would always refer to Martha as “the neighborhood sweetheart”. When they retired, they became regular fixtures on their front porch, drinking coffee and visiting with anyone who might stop by. Their children were daily visitors and always loved, and looked forward to, returning home to sit and talk with Mom and Dad.

The love of David’s life was his wife of 50 years, Jackie Glosson Neely. He met her at a restaurant in Austin called The Pig Stand, a popular drive up often frequented by young Bergstrom Servicemen. He was 22 and she was 19 and living in Buda, Texas but she commuted to Austin to work at the department store Goodfriends. He always said he knew the moment that he met her he wanted to marry her. He had been intending to return to his hometown of Calhoun Falls after he was discharged from the military, but after meeting Jackie he decided to stay and join the Austin Police Department Cadet Class…and the rest is history. They were married in 1969.

They were parted by death in November 2019 but are reunited in Heaven.

In addition to his wife, David is preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Denice Chrisley Myers; a brother Don Chrisley; brother-in-law Howie Crocker; sister-in-law Carolyn “Rennie” Mundy Chrisley; Mother-in-law Janie Mae Jennings Glosson; brother and sister-in-law Emmett and Dorothy Glosson; sister-in-law Merle McKenney; brother-in-law Aubrey Glosson; brother-in-law Milton Glosson; sister and brother-in-law Ann “Tino” Glosson and John Turner; brother and sister-in-law Weldon and Lou Glosson, and brother-in-law Billy Evans.

David is survived by his son Rick Neely of Lago Vista; daughter Jennifer Neely Scott (Robert) of Georgetown; sister Faye Chrisley Crocker of Greenwood, South Carolina; sister Beth Chrisley Brown (Danny) of Calhoun Falls, South Carolina; brother-in-law Johnny “Oscar” Myers of Calhoun Falls, South Carolina; three sisters-in-law, Donna Glosson Johnson (Bob) of Blanco, Texas; RaiGenne Glosson Evans of Kyle, Texas; and Sharon Glosson Harvey (Dudley) of Georgetown, Texas; and two brothers-in-law, Walter Glosson (Carolyn) of Abilene, Texas; and Monty Glosson of Johnson City, Texas.

He is also survived by his six grandchildren, Ashley Neely; Savannah Scott (Casey Reitz); Madison Neely; Bobby Scott (Amanda); Abby Scott; and Gage Neely; and his four great-grandchildren, Luke Neely; Sloane Neely; Adeline Scott; and Robby Scott. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews he loved so dearly.

Services will be held at 1:00 pm, Friday, June 28, 2024, in the chapel of Harris Funeral Home, Calhoun Falls Chapel. Burial will follow in Latimer Cemetery. 

We want to thank Dad's caregivers who made such an amazing difference in his and our lives this past year...Francise (what a blessing you were for us, especially the last few weeks), Jolanta & Angela. Also, we want to thank Melissa (though you were only with us the last few weeks, we know you were our gift from God, for the care you took of our Dad's spiritual health). We also want to thank Amedisys Hospice for your help and guidance and for seeing after Dad's comfort and peace.