Eisenhour Funeral Home
Blanchard, McClain Co, OK
(permission granted)

Neil Edward Finley, 68, of Blanchard and Oklahoma City, passed away at his home in Blanchard on Wednesday, February 14, 2024.

The son of Edward Finley and Mary Jacqueline “Jackie” (Bruner) Finley, he was born on July 18, 1955, in Artesia, New Mexico.

Neil married the love of his life, Gayla Denise Patterson, on July 12, 1985, in Oklahoma City. They were married for 38 beautiful years.

Neil proudly served in the United States Army.

He worked for the United States Postal Service in Yukon for 28 years.

He and his wife, Gayla, were very active in their church families, having taught Sunday school and worked in the bus ministry.

Neil was known for being an incredibly creative soul. Music was his entire world. He was a wonderful singer and had a special love for jazz. Neil especially loved the saxophone. Aside from his musical gifts, he was also a writer having written multiple novels and even having a short story and a handful of haikus published through Oklahoma City Community College.

Neil was a family man at heart and enjoyed spending quality time with them. He was an animal lover with a particular fondness for his beloved pups, Freckles, Rico, and Diggity. To those who knew him, Neil had a very silly side. He enjoyed telling jokes and teasing those closest to him. In his spare time, Neil enjoyed reading, particularly from his own personal science fiction library. He also enjoyed adding to his various collections, including Hot Wheels and rocks and gemstones. Neil would also create wire sculptures of animals. He will be deeply missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him.

He was preceded in death by an unborn child; his parents, Mary Jacqueline “Jackie” (Bruner) Finley and Edward Finley; his mother-in-law, Vera Patterson; and an unborn sibling.

Neil is survived by his wife, Gayla Finley of Blanchard and Oklahoma City; his father-in-law, Pat Patterson of Blanchard and Oklahoma City; three sisters, Tracy Waldrop and her husband, Charles “Chuck”, Joni Reeder, and Julie Finley; a niece, Kelsi Tran and her husband, Joe; a foster brother, T. Mitchell Adams; and many more loving family members and friends.

Viewing will be from 11:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M., Wednesday, February 21, 2024, at Eisenhour Funeral Home in Blanchard, Oklahoma. A funeral service will be held at 2:00 P.M., Thursday, February 22, 2024, at the Eisenhour Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow at the Blanchard Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Eisenhour Funeral Home of Blanchard, Oklahoma.