Elaine was born September 22, 1949 to John Paul Hadley Jr., and Eloise Eckert in Wichita Falls, Texas. Upon sunrise on September 29, 2020, she left this earthly world to join her Heavenly Father.  Elaine grew up in Wichita Falls, Texas with her large extended family nearby.

One hot Summers Eve in Wichita Falls, Karen Elaine Hadley, was out deep into shenanigans with her BFF, Debbie Harvey Jackson, when suddenly the lights went out at the 7-11, a knight in shining armor arrived to save the evening. Little did Stephen Leigh Neeld know, this was the first evening together with the love of his life. They were married February 5, 1971.

After her marriage, Steve and Elaine were able to live in many places around the country, they enjoyed them all. She loved spending long days enjoying the beauty of nature and God's displays in the skies.

Elaine and Steve were a team and married 49 years.   She was 71 years young, and although tiny in stature, she was dynamite.  Her wit put smiles on the faces of anyone she was around and her memory rivaled Wikipedia.  As the family moved many times throughout the United States and parts of Canada she held various employment positions, however the job she was most proud of was that of the consummate homemaker and Mom to her children.  She could fearlessly drive a Volkswagon in a Wyoming blizzard with 50 mph crosswind as well as cheer her daughter's soccer team to victory or tame her son's basketball team with jokes and snacks.

Family was her biggest love in life. Her daughter, Lauren Nicole and husband Justin Barr blessed her with three grandchildren- Merritt, Aubrie and Ellie May. Her son, Brian Hadley Neeld, enjoyed many hours with his mom creating a wonderful garden that they both loved and others adored.

She was the ultimate project manager and was super organized, with helping her kids on their homework no matter the subject matter from creative writing to art, she could do it all. She was a fantastic sports team mom, providing the kids teams with fresh cut fruit or Gatorade ice cubes. As tiny as she was, her heart amplified her ferocious roar during the game time, taking their teams to victory. Elaine gave the best back rubs when needed as well as expressing her love in notes in lunch boxes. She was one of the few people that could remember the punch line to all the best jokes for us kids. She always waited up to make sure that we made it home safely from our events and fun nights out with our friends. In particular she loved to make sure Brian and his friends safely got to and from toilet papering acquaintances houses. She made birthdays one of the most special days out of the year for the person celebrating their big day, but Christmas, WOW. She was the Queen of Christmas decorations, and her God given gift was to deck the halls of the Neeld house for everyone to enjoy. Christmas will never be the same without her warmth and love that she poured into making the family house a home. She was the neighborhoods go to unlicensed nurse, mending all kids of wounds from skateboarding, bike riding and roller blading. She could always persuade her kid's friends to help out with projects around the house, but before that happened, please take off your shoes and leave them at the door! She loved her grandkids and always had special treats for them, from cinnamon gum to stuffed animals that could sing.

Her sister, Margie Malone and husband Mike Malone along with their kids Erik and Ryan lived on and off in the same town. Her brother Steve Hadley, after his retirement moved close by to be able to spend more time with the family. Her love for family gatherings was contagious by the women in the family, and over the years her sister and she hosted many gatherings. There was always a tug of war over who would host which holiday next, but in reality her brother, always benefited the most. The love she had for her siblings and they have for her, is truly a beautiful thing to be a witness to. They shared many memories, stories, and jokes with each other and no matter what, at the end of the day they loved each other with a loyalty that was never ending.

A memorial service is scheduled for 10 AM Saturday October 17, 2020 at the First Christian Church of Wichita Falls Texas - Fellowship Hall, with her final resting place to be Bellevue Cemetery, Bellevue Texas.
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