NEFF

Shirley Allen “Al” Neff, 85, of Pinehurst, passed away Saturday, March 5, 2011, at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital, in Pinehurst.
He was born Dec. 3, 1925, in St. Louis, Mo., to the late Dr. Shirley C. and Louise Allen Neff. He grew up in Caruthersville, Mo., and served a two-year stint in Hawaii as a military policeman. In 1947 he married Jean Grimes and they raised two daughters. Shirley, known as “Al” among his golfing buddies, joined the J.C. Penney Co. in 1951 in Caruthersville. He worked 28 years with the company in a number of states and various positions, which included several appointments as store manager and five years of service as small store merchandiser at the regional office in Pittsburgh. He retired after 28 years to Pinehurst to play golf.
Throughout his career and retirement, Al was an active volunteer and office holder in such organizations as Kiwanis, Lions, Jaycees, the Food Bank and SCORE, among many others. He was an avid golfer as well as a talented woodworker.
Al is survived by his loving wife of almost 64 years, Jean Grimes Neff; two daughters, Sandra Allen, of Cape Coral, Fla., and Mary Lou Brown and her husband, Bill, of Charlotte; and three grandchildren, Katie Brown, of Columbia, S.C., Jeff Brown, of Charlotte, and Erin Guyer, of Atlanta. He was preceded in death by his son-in-law, Tom Allen.
Visitation was held from 1 to 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 8, at Boles Funeral Home, in Pinehurst. A memorial service followed at 2 p.m. Interment will be at Pinelawn Cemetery, at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association.
Boles Funeral Home of Pinehurst is serving the family.