Kathy Nealy

A Memorial Service celebrating the life of Kathy Louise Frady Nealy, a 25-year resident of Opelousas, will be held at 1:00pm on Wednesday, July 28, 2021 in the Skip Montet Chapel at Lafond-Ardoin Funeral Home of Opelousas.Visitation will begin at 9:00am until the time of service. Rite of Committal and burial will follow in the Bellevue Memorial Park Cemetery.

At Woodlawn Highschool in Shreveport, LA, Kathy was a charter member of the first ever high kick dance team in the USA, Redline, where she high-stepped until she graduated. After high school, she attended Northeastern, in Monroe. She was a regular singer for the rock band, Earth, where she met her husband Scott Nealy, the lead singer. They were married on June 9, 1974. Not long after the wedding, they hopped from Shreveport to Baton Rouge and eventually landed in Acadiana where they raised 3 children: Brandon, Daniel, and Rachel. In order to provide a christian education for their children, Kathy worked tirelessly serving at Westminster Christian Academy. During her 25 year tenure, she wore many hats including transportation director, office supervisor, lunch director, and school nurse, among other duties. Meanwhile, Kathy and Scott headed up a youth backpacking program at Westminster called Rangers. They led students between the ages of 13-18 on wilderness backpacking trips across some of the roughest terrain In the US. During their treks, Kathy was usually hanging out at the back of the line, taking her time counseling and sharing biblical wisdom with the hundreds of students that came through the program. She was always an animal lover. Even though Kathy was a city girl from Shreveport, she loved farm life. The family had something of a rotating petting zoo: persian cats, english bulldogs, great pyrenees, pygmy goats, and alaskan malamutes. Her favorite of all were the horses. Whether it was encouraging her daughter, Rachel’s barrel racing or just riding the kids around the pasture, she loved every minute. There are many people who will share stories remembering Kathy’s role in their lives, but none of them meant as much to her as her role as Grandma. She was the best. Whether it was living room dance parties, going on sunset golf cart drives, or nursing the latest injured animal back to health, she was there for it all with her grandchildren. Kathy leaves behind a legacy of a life well lived. She perfected her gumbo recipe, had questionable taste in western wear, and most importantly her love of Jesus was demonstrated through her compassion and empathy for others. She lived her life well, caring for her family, animals, and was always there to support the underdog.

Survivors include her husband Scott Warner Nealy; her son Brandon Warner Nealy, his wife Emily Elisabeth Nealy and their four children Shirah Elisabeth Phillips, Adeline Louise Nealy, Jude Warner Nealy, and Amelia Augustine Nealy; her son Daniel Scott Nealy and his daughter Aubrey Ann; her daughter, Rachel Lauren Cook, Rachel’s husband Jeffrey Daniel Cook and their three children Scarlett Jane Cook, Eloise Elisabeth Cook, and Shepard Daniel Cook; and her three sisters Shelia Frady Lamberth and her husband Gary, Sherri Frady Palmer, and Lisa Frady Robinson.

She is preceded in death by her parents Harold George Frady and Margie Jackson Frady; her mother and father-in-law, Helen Sydelle Nealy and Dan Warner Nealy; and her brother-in-law, Bob Robinson, Jr.

Family and friends are invited to sign and view the online guestbook at www.lafondardoin.com.

LaFond-Ardoin Funeral Home of Opelousas, 2845 South Union Street, Opelousas, LA 70570 (337-942-2638) has been entrusted with the funeral arrangements.