Visitation begins at 1 p.m. with memorial services at 2 p.m. on Thursday, May 25, at the Church of Christ in Kimball. A second visitation is planned from 5-8 p.m. Monday, May 29, at the Pinkard Funeral Home in Russellville, Ala. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 30, at the Antioch Baptist Church, Phil Campbell, Ala., with burial following in the Antioch Cemetery.
Nellie Jo (Hightower) Greely was born in Cullman, Ala., the ninth child of the late Rev. Thomas Duford and Carrie Hightower. She has lived in Alabama, Washington, D.C., Nebraska, Illinois, Florida and Minnesota. She loved spending time with her family and friends. She also took a lot of pride and joy in her job as a wedding and event coordinator, and she loved to socialize with people. She was also known as Mom, Sister #7, Buela, Creola, Josephine and Big Farkles.
Nellie Jo was preceded in death by her mother and father; brother Ronald Hightower; and grandson Treyce Lakoskey.
She is survived by her husband Ron Greely of St. Michael; children Lisa (and Rodney) Hazel of Greensboro, N.C.; Stefanie (and Jeff) Nimick of St. Charles, Ill.; Karen (and Adrian) Newis of Greensboro, N.C.; Angie Lakoskey of Mesa, Ariz.; Bryan (and Kelly) Price of Albertville; stepchildren Lori (and Tim) Rice of South Haven; Troy (and Cheryl) Greely of Plymouth; Trent (and Shelly) Greely of Crosby; Ted (and Annette) Greely of St. Michael; grandchildren Spencer, Morgan and Parker Hazel, Isaac, Allison and Christopher Nimick, Colin and Nicholas Newis, Tommy, Shaynee and Trevor Lakoskey and Jaxon Price; step-grandchildren Ryan, Raymen and Riley Rice, Mikayla, Drew, Noelle, D.J., Shanna, Greg, Amber and Kaia Greely; sisters and brothers Louise Cagle, Elouise Shelnutt, Betty Faye Mobley, Iva Lee Dobbins, Bobbie Fell, Cuethal Hightower, Eddie Hightower and Sheila Kimbrough.
Pallbearers in Minnesota will be Drew Greely, Ryan, Raymen and Riley Rice. Pallbearers in Alabama will be Bryan Price, Rodney Hazel, Jeff Nimick and Adrian Newis. The honorary pallbearers will be Jacob Kimbrough, Billy Fell, Zach and Steve Hightower, Josh Hand, Randy and Jeff Dobbins, Michael and James Thornton. In lieu of flowers, please direct memorials to the Alzheimer’s Association, 455 W. 77th St., Minneapolis, Minn. 55435. Arrangements were made by Dingmann Funeral Care of Kimball and Pinkard Funeral Home of Russellville, Ala.
