Gailya Lee Neal, 75, of Clyde died Monday, October 1, 2018 in a Brownwood nursing home. Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m. Friday, October 5, 2018 at the Bailey Howard Funeral Home Chapel in Clyde. Visitation will be Thursday from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Interment at Greenleaf Cemetery in Brownwood will follow at a later date.

Gailya was born May 5, 1943 in Brownwood to Armon and Billie Jo (Hames) Kelly. She graduated from Brownwood High School in 1961. She was a member of the Coggin Avenue Baptist Church. Gail worked as an operator with Southwestern States Telephone Company and also worked for Texas Feathers, Inc. She moved to Clyde from Brownwood in 1995.

Gailya will be remembered by those who knew her and loved her as a tiny little lady with huge opinions and the biggest heart. She loved all of God's creatures, but kittens and cats were her passion. If kittens were looking for a home, they were welcomed into her home and her heart.

She was our mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. We loved her and will miss her.

She is survived by two sons, Mark Boler of Abilene and Scotty Walton and wife Kerri of Florida; two daughters, Kathy Goble and husband Richard of Clyde and Leah Arnold and husband Wayland of Clyde; two brothers, Joe and Dan Kelly of Brownwood; sister Ann Crenshaw of Brownwood; grandchildren, Brandon Goble and wife Lindsey, Justin Goble and wife Brooke, Kristen Ampelas Bradford and husband Eddie, Alex Ampelas, Danielle Martin Cary and husband Chase, Hayden Arnold, Catherine Walton and Leah Walton; six great grandchildren, Eli Goble, Braylee Goble, Kalyn Goble, Ella Goble, Oliver Bradford and Rinlee Cary, very special cousin Evy Winn and husband Rowland, a host of human friends, and six cat friends.

Gailya was preceded in death by her parents, Armon Kelly and Billie Edmondson.

The family would like to give a special thank you to Laura McKenzie and Mary Healy, and to the nursing home staff and all the others who helped and cared for Gailya.