J. Md

John Gail Henry Neely, MD, FACS, named after all the males in his mother's very small family, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family on August 20, 2017 at the age of 77 from progressive pulmonary fibrosis. His wife Susan, 6 children, 16 grandchildren, and 3 great grandchildren survive him. He had an unquenchable curiosity and profound reverence for truth. He loved people and delighted in exciting others to maximize their talents toward excellence. This extended from young grade school children to advanced medical colleagues and postdoctoral trainees. He used his medical and surgical experience in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery as a stimulus for exploring the mechanisms of disease and the underlying pathophysiology of patient's symptoms. As he progressed through his medical education and practice, he took every opportunity to train and use scientific methods for problem solving. In high school, he wrote a term paper on the biochemistry of the emotions with the help of Ethel Derrick, PhD at the University of Central Oklahoma. Between college and medical school, he studied neurophysiology at Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL funded by National Science Foundation (NSF). In medical school at the University of Oklahoma, he participated in neuropharmacology research and spent a summer in Washington D.C. in the Commissioned Officer Student Trainee and Extern Program (COSTEP) in the neurological and sensory disease service program. Following his internship at the University of Oregon, he spent two years in the uniformed service USPHS-Division of Indian Health, where he was commanding officer and developed a funded program for the alcoholic. He then completed a residency in General Surgery-Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine. Following his residency, he completed a fellowship with the House Ear Clinic and Institute in Los Angeles, CA. He entered academic otolaryngology practice with a focus on ear and skull base surgery at Baylor College of Medicine. Later he served as chairperson of the department of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery at the University of Oklahoma. Thereafter, he took a year sabbatical at Yale University studying with Alvan Feinstein in clinical epidemiology. He then joined the faculty full time at Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, to continue his surgical practice and NIH funded training grant to teach surgical-scientists. For thirteen years, he suffered with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, ultimately requiring him to leave his practice but continuing to be happy and productive doing what he cared about the most, thinking and having an outlet for his thoughts. Previous resident surgeons delighted his day by calling and sharing complex cases. Eventually he joined hospice to prepare his family and himself for his passing. This process enriched his closeness to Jesus Christ and ultimately God. Every individual that cared that he had time on earth blessed him. It was a great trip. Thank you. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the University of Central Oklahoma, 100 N. University, Evans Hall Room 102 Edmond, OK 73034 or Concord Trinity UMC Living Memorials 5275 S. Lindbergh Blvd. Saint Louis, MO 63126. August 23, 2017
04:00 pm - 07:00 pm
John L. Ziegenhein & Sons Funeral Homes - South County
4830 Lemay Ferry Road (63129)
August 24, 2017
11:00 am - 11:30 am
John L. Ziegenhein & Sons South County Chapel
4830 Lemay Ferry Road (63129)