FRANKLIN — Emogene Powell McNeely, 89, died on July 20, 2018, in Blacksburg, Virginia.

She was born on Jan 12, 1929, in Morganton, North Carolina, to the late Clifford L. and Marie Kincaid Powell of Valdese, North Carolina. She was preceded in death by her husband, Irwin Hollar McNeely, M.D., of Franklin, Virginia.

She is survived by daughter, Pamela Griffith and husband, Dennis of Franklin, Virginia; daughter, Mitzi Montgomery and husband, David, of Naples, Florida; son, Irwin “Neil” H. McNeely Jr. and his wife, Carol, of Christiansburg, Virginia.

She was blessed with four grandchildren, John Blythe of Franklin; Kelly Cobb of Naples; Irwin H. “Trey” McNeely III and Rachel McNeely of Christiansburg, Virginia; and with four great-grandchildren, Jacob, Mia, and Lucas Blythe of Franklin; and Devin Oetman of Naples; cousin, Jack Cook and his wife, Ellen, of Hickory, North Carolina; and many cherished nieces and nephews.

She received her early education in the public schools of Valdese, North Carolina, her BA degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and her Master’s in education from Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia.

Jean, as she liked to be called, worked at Duke University Hospital, Durham, North Carolina, as a laboratory technician. She taught biology in Roanoke, Virginia City Schools; Franklin, Virginia City Schools and Southampton County Schools.

She co-founded and was principal broker at Venture Properties Inc. in Franklin.

She served as president of The Suffolk-Franklin Board of Realtors and was on their Board of Directors for many years. She was a member of The Chamber of Commerce in Franklin, and served on their board.

Jean was a member of High Street United Methodist Church and the Franklin Garden Club.

Jean loved to travel, to sew and knit, take family beach trips, attend sporting events with her husband, and most of all, she loved to meet people. She never met a stranger.

The service will be in High Street United Methodist Church in Franklin on Friday, Aug. 10, at 2 p.m. There will be a reception to follow at the church. The entombment will follow at Burk Memorial Park Mausoleum, Morganton, North Carolina, on Sunday, Aug. 12, at 2 p.m. There will be a reception to follow at Friday Friends.

The family wishes to express their sincere gratitude to all who offered their prayers and support, the staff at Warm Hearth Village, and to Cynthia Hayes and Cindy Dawkins for their love, care and friendship in her final year.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the American Cancer Society, 4-A Oak Branch Drive, Greensboro, NC 27407, or High Street United Methodist Church, PO Box 218, Franklin, VA 23851. www.wrightfuneralhome.org.