Lydia Faye Neff
1916 - 2004

Lydia Faye Neff, longtime resident of Ponca City, died Monday April 19, 2004 at Via Christi Oklahoma Regional Medical Center. She was 88.

A graveside service will be held Thursday, April 22, at 10 a.m. at Ponca City IOOF Cemetery with the Rev. Virgil Swift officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel.

Born April 6, 1916 in Turkey, Texas she was the daughter of Hayden and Etta Mae Hawkins Newlin. As a young child, she came with her family to Red Rock. She attended Red Rock schools for a short time before going to work in the cotton fields. She was married to Dewey Wright in Newkirk and they made their home in Ponca City. Faye worked at Conoco during World War II but later went to work for Leche Laundry, where she washed and ironed for many years.

Her husband Dewey, died in 1954, and she later married Ralph Neff. They continued living in the Ponca City area, and Faye left Leche Laundry to stay home.

Faye loved serving her family as a homemaker and fulfilling the responsibilities she felt came with that job. She raised a garden, canned the produce, cleaned and ironed. She also loved taking care of people; she felt family should take care of family. Faye cared for her parents while working and rearing two children. Additionally, she enjoyed traveling, dancing, going to garage sales and camping. She was also a member of Liberty Baptist Church.

In addition to her first husband, she was preceded in death by her second husband, Ralph on Nov. 20, 1983; one son, Dewey Wright Jr.; four brothers, Virgil, Raleigh, Zack and Russell; and two sisters, Lucretia and Goldie.

She is survived by three children, Wanda Griffith of Ponca City, Brenda Weber of Kansas City, Mo., and Bert Neff of Mayfield, Kan.; 10 grandchildren, Cindy Wolfkill, Cheryl Shelton, and Steve Griffith all of Ponca City, Rick Wright of Morgan Hill, Calif., Kathy Edson of Paradise, Calif., Michael Neff of Edmond, Robert Neff of Wichita, Kan., Yoland Beardon of Lawrence, Kan., Veronica Salinas and Brandi Weber both of Kansas City, Mo.; nine great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.