Marie S. Neff

Marie Betty Jane Strasser Neff, beloved mother and grandmother, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, November 20, 2022 at age 97.

Born June 3, 1925 in Neva, Wisconsin, she was a daughter of the late Joseph Andrew and Eva Boucher Strasser.

Marie began her career in Chicago at Sharp Pen Company before moving with her brother Jack to Hot Springs, Virginia where she worked at the Homestead and met her future husband, Roy. Roy and Marie moved to Verona in 1958 with their children, Ann, Roy, and Andy. Marie first worked as the bookkeeper for Neff’s Garage in downtown Staunton. Following her husband’s death in 1965, she served as the head bookkeeper and office manager of The Staunton News Leader, while raising her three children. After her retirement, Marie worked part-time at the Augusta County School Board, where she was known for decorating the offices for Christmas each year. She was a member of the Staunton Moose Lodge, the Red Hat Society, and St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church.

Marie enjoyed gardening, sewing, knitting, and traveling. She especially loved hosting her family for holiday and birthday celebrations where she always served her famous macaroni and cheese and homemade birthday cakes. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren remember the magic of her Christmas decorations, the race of finding the glass pickle hidden in the Christmas tree, playing with Granny in the creek behind her house, and the concerts they performed for her on the player piano.

Marie was preceded in death by her husband, Roy Thomas Neff, Sr. and her siblings Yvonne Kennedy, Vern Strasser, and Jack Strasser.

She is survived by her daughter, Ann Marie Neff Riddle (Charles Preston Riddle, deceased), her sons, Roy Thomas Neff, Jr. (Gail Williams Neff) and Andrew Warren Neff (Teresa Wampler Neff), five grandchildren, Rebecca Ann Scott (Roger Wilson Scott, deceased), Jerry Lawrence Miller, Andrea Marie Neff, Christopher Thomas Neff (Lauren Liles Neff), and Lauren Neff Kehoe (Michael McKenna “Mac” Kehoe), four great-grandchildren, Andrew Joseph “AJ” Braden, Skylar Marie Scott, Alexandra Lynne Neff, and Andrew Ryan Neff, her sisters, Marcy Johnson and JoAnn Clark, close family friends Mark, Brenda and Alyssa Forren, and family members Roger Wilson Scott, Jr. (Ashley Scott), Kayla Scott, Blake Scott, McKenzie Fitzgerald, Brinsley Scott, Liam Scott, April Scott, Aiden Butler and Briana Smegal.

On Tuesday, November 29, the family will receive friends at 11:00 AM at Henry Funeral Home in Staunton. The Reverend Matthias Lusembo will officiate funeral services in the Henry Funeral Home Chapel at noon. The family requests guests wear pearls in Marie’s honor. A private burial will be held at Augusta Memorial Park.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Augusta Regional SPCA (33 Archery Lane, Staunton, VA 24401).