ELGIN - Graveside service for Melvin Eugene “Gene” Neeley, 77, will be held Thursday at 3:00 p.m. in Crescent Hill Memorial Gardens. Rev. Jonathan M. Evans will officiate. The family will receive friends Wednesday 6-8 p.m. at Powers Funeral Home, Lugoff. Mr. Neeley died Monday, April 28, 2008. Born in Columbia, he was a son of the late Oscar P. and Nettie Martin Neeley. He served in the United States Navy during the Korean Conflict. He was an avid NASCAR fan and enjoyed fishing and gardening. Mr. Neeley loved his family and enjoyed spending time with them. Surviving are his wife of 53 years, Mary Neeley; son and daughter-in-law, Roy and Beverly Neeley of Elgin; daughters and sons-in-law, Brenda and Paul Jacobs of Easley, Sherri and Robbie Stevens of Elgin, Bonnie and Johnny Singletary Jr., of Elgin, Cindy Neeley of Lugoff, and Windy and Michael Rawl of Lugoff; sister, Ruth Courtney of Columbia; 15 grandchildren; and 2 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by brothers, Robert Neeley, Julian Neeley and Richard Neeley; and sister, Helen Dial.