SIKESTON, Mo. -- Carolyn Rose Neese, 81, of Sikeston, formerly of Jackson and Alton, Illinois, passed away Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023, at Convalescent Center in Sikeston.

She was born Jan. 14, 1942, in Pemiscot County, Missouri, to Louis Tucker and Frances LaNell Griggs Woodard. Carolyn and Gary Neese were married June 12, 2004, at the city park in Jackson. She and her former husband, Herman Lucey, had three children, Penny, Kenny and Carol.

Carolyn attended Bloomfield (Missouri) High School. She earned an associate degree in nursing and was employed by hospitals in Cape Girardeau and St. Louis, retiring in 2011.

Carolyn was a member of Church of Christ in Jackson. She was a former member of First General Baptist Church in Jackson and Church of Christ in Godfrey, Illinois.

Loving survivors include her husband of 19 years, Gary Neese of Sikeston; two children, Penny (George) Bruhl of Clarksville, Tennessee, and Kenny (Denise) Lucey of Sikeston; Gary's children, Gary (Tammy) Neese Jr. of Godfrey and Carol (Mitch) Vernatti of Indiana; five siblings, Alice (Lloyd) DeCeourley of Corpus Christi, Texas, Jean (Darrell) White of Cape Girardeau, Ronald (Glenda) Woodard and June (Charles) Kohler of Jackson and Renea (Chuck) Holt of St. Louis; and Gary's sister, Beatrice (the late Howard) Weaver of Jerseyville, Illinois.

Also surviving are three grandchildren, Andrew Freeman, Justin (Madeline) Freeman and Kenny Lucey Jr.; Gary's grandchildren, Taylor Neese and Emarey (Jaylen) Washington; and eight great-grandchildren, Ellie, Easton, Jayce, Noah, Alexander and Zachary Freeman and Jacob and Kendra Lucey.

She was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Carol Lynn Lucey; grandson, Christopher Freeman; her parents; and her former husband, Herman Lucey.

Visitation will be from 12:30 p.m. to service time Monday, Oct. 2, at McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.

The Rev. Brian Mitchell will conduct the funeral at 2 p.m. Monday, Oct. 2, at the funeral home. Inurnment will be private at a later date.

If considering a memorial contribution, the family suggests donations to Alzheimer's Association.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by clicking on the tribute wall tab above Carolyn's obituary article at mccombsfuneralhome.com.