Helen Norman Neely, 83, of Mooresville, N.C., passed away April 17, 2025, at Summit Place of Mooresville.

Helen was born November 27, 1941, in Morganton, N.C., to the late Ray and Ruth Glazebrook Norman. Helen attended Gardner-Webb College and Western Carolina University, earning a teaching degree. She began her teaching career in the Gaston County Schools with most of her career spent in the Mooresville Graded School District at South Elementary School and Mooresville Intermediate School. Helen loved both the many students she taught over the years as well as the lifelong friendships she formed with her fellow educators.

Helen is survived by her husband, John B. Neely Jr. of Mooresville; her children, Meredith Neely Peebles (Hill) of Charlotte and John B. Neely III (Marissa) of Wilmington, N.C.; beloved grandchildren, Thomas Hill Peebles, John Neely Peebles, Luke Norman Peebles, Emma Jane Neely, and Isabella Ann Neely; brother Clyde Norman of Ohio; treasured aunt, Dorothy Whisnant of Morganton, N.C.; and her adored nieces and nephews, Shawn Wright, Elizabeth Wright, John Whisnant, Holly Norman and Danielle Knox.

Helen was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Katherine N. Cox; her sister-in-law, Jane Neely Wright; and her nephew, Bryan Norman.

After marriage in 1973, Helen and John settled in Mooresville, where they established strong roots as faithful members of First Presbyterian Church of Mooresville. Over the years, Helen enjoyed devoting her time to serving in Circle, volunteering, and Sunday School. She loved spending time with her family (especially her grandchildren) and friends, and she enjoyed many vacation trips to Ocean Isle Beach. Helen rarely missed a Metrolina Flea Market or any chance to shop or lunch with friends.

The family would like to thank the caregivers at Summit Place of Mooresville for their kind and loving care of Helen, especially in the last weeks of her life.

A service in celebration of Helen’s life will be held at First Presbyterian Church of Mooresville at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 26, 2025. The family will receive friends in the Fellowship Hall following the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org) or to Coastal B.U.D.S. of Wilmington (coastalbuds.org).

Cavin-Cook Funeral Home, Mooresville, is serving the family.