GREENWOOD
Carolyn Joyce (Neely) Nay age 83, of Greenwood, passed away peacefully August 10, 2021. She was born August 20, 1937, in Indianapolis, Indiana to the late Charles W. Neely and Claudia (Moffett) Neely. Carolyn was a 1955 graduate of Broad Ripple High School and 1959 graduate of Indiana Central College (now the University of Indianapolis), where she earned a bachelor’s degree in education. Throughout college, she worked as a lifeguard at the Garfield Park Pool. She later earned a master’s degree in Health and Safety from Indiana University. Carolyn taught high school for 32 years at Greenwood High School and served as Department Head of the school’s Physical Education program. At various times during her teaching career, she supervised student teachers from many local colleges and universities. She also served as the cheerleading coach. She retired in 1992. During the 1960s, she was manager of the Greenwood City Pool. Carolyn was well-known throughout Johnson County as “Mrs. Coach,” the devoted wife of 53 years to the late Jack L. Nay, a varsity basketball coach at Greenwood, Plainfield and Center Grove High Schools. Many of Jack’s players will remember Carolyn as their number one fan, cheerleader, creator of the many team scrapbooks and chef for the annual pre-sectional tourney steak dinners for teammates.
Carolyn was a member of the Greenwood Christian Church, Kappa Kappa Kappa, Greenwood Business Women, Greenwood Coterie, Greenwood Women’s Club and the Johnson County Retired Teachers’ Association. Her many hobbies included feeding the birds in her backyard, shelling on the beaches of Florida (Siesta Key’s Crescent Beach was her favorite), and collecting antiques. She also loved to travel and served as a chaperone for several of the Greenwood High School student trips to Europe. Carolyn also was a lover of all animals and had several beloved pets during her life – cats, dogs and even a squirrel named Peaches.
Carolyn is survived by her three children, Gregg (Karen) Nay, Lee Ann (Edwin) Hoy, and Jennifer (Michelle) Nay; and her five grandchildren, Zach Nay, Madison (Phil) Clay, Elyse Hoy, Emily Hoy and Arie J. Kelly. In addition to having a close family, Carolyn was blessed to have many, many friends in her life. She will be missed dearly by all. Visitation for Carolyn will be 10:00am until 1:00p.m., Saturday, August 14, 2021 at G. H. Herrmann Funeral Home, 1605 South S.R. 135, Greenwood, Indiana. Services will be immediately following at 1:00 p.m. Burial will be in the Greenwood Cemetery. Memorial contributions can be made to the Mike Neely Foundation, 1148 Charles Lee Ct., Greenwood, IN 46143; or the Johnson County Humane Society at [email protected]. Online condolences may be expressed at www.ghherrmann.com.
