Neta Jean Floyd

Neta Jean Rogers Floyd, age 87, of Gatesville, passed away Tuesday, December 24, 2019 at her home.  Memorial services are scheduled for 2 PM Sunday, December 29, 2019 at The First Baptist Church in Gatesville.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Neta was born July 20, 1932 in Gatesville, TX, the first child (together) of Allen Thurman Rogers and Elizabeth Thompson Schley Rogers. Her half-siblings were: (all deceased) Weldon Rogers, Vonna Rogers Hestilow, Inez Rogers Drake, Milda Schley Hibits, and Grover Lee Schley, Jr. Her grandparents were Harry James and Mary Lynn Patton Rogers & Robert Marion and Elizabeth Rodgers Thompson. She was raised in Gatesville, TX and graduated from Gatesville High School in 1949. She was Freshman class president and met Billy Floyd in the GHS band where both played saxophone. Bill first noticed Neta when she was wearing a tutu as a server at the Jr/Sr banquet. She attended Baylor 1949-50 and worked at the Texas Highway Department (where she learned to use a planimeter) 1950-52.  Neta married the love of her life, William Forrest Floyd, on Sept. 6, 1952. They celebrated 67 wondrous years of marriage. She worked at Monsanto chemical plant in Texas City while Bill attended Medical School at UTMB Galveston. She got the job because she knew how to use a planimeter and they were very impressed with that skill (however, they never asked her to use one the entire time she was there). After Becky’s birth, Neta worked in the UTMB surgical center, coordinating and organizing the top surgeons’ surgeries.  Bill and Neta had 4 daughters: Rebecca Lynn, Elizabeth Jean, Bonita Kaye and Beverly Anne. The family returned to Gatesville, TX in Sept. 1963 where Bill began private medical practice after 11 years away and 13 moves with the Air Force.  Neta was a charter member of the Coryell Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, logging thousands of hours, mostly in the surgery center. Both Bill and Neta were faithful members of First Baptist Church, Gatesville, Texas where Neta joyfully sang alto in the choir and JOY choir. She was also the Sunday School secretary for several decades.  Neta loved playing bridge and solitaire, and doing crossword puzzles. She was also an avid sports fan, especially Baylor Bear football, Lady Bears basketball and the Dallas Cowboys. She was a lifelong fan of Jeopardy. The family always said she should go on the show because she would surely win. She was the “glue” of the family, always being the one to stay in contact with relatives by phone calls, cards, and a very, very long Christmas card list. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband; William F. Floyd, and daughter and son-in-law, Bonny and Wayne Billings. Neta Floyd is survived by 3 daughters: Becky Wilkins and husband Wayne, Betsy Berry and husband Clayton, and Beverly McNeal and husband Scott; 9 grandchildren: Ben, Brady, and Bryan Wilkins (and spouses), O. B. Berry, III, Ashlyn Berry White (and spouse), Amelia Berry, Whitney Billings, Madelynn McNeal and Michael McNeal; also 14 great-grandchildren. The family asks that monetary donations in her memory be sent to the Dr. Bill and Neta Floyd Scholarship Fund c/o Gatesville ISD, 311 S. Lovers Lane Gatesville, TX 76528.