Irley Gene Neugebauer

Irley Gene Neugebauer the son of Fredrick Enoch and Lena Dosha (Lesley) Neugebauer was born January 28, 1937, in Frederick, Oklahoma and passed away in Houston, Missouri on April 3, 2024, making him 87 years old.

He was preceded in death by his parents Fred and Lena Neugebauer, one brother Freddie Neugebauer.

Irley is survived by his children: Chris (Lisa) of Eureka, Rodney (Tressie) of Houston, Lisa (Jarrett) of Springfield; grandchildren: Kristin of Overland, Kirk (Kelsey: Sage and Wyatt) of Jacksonville, AR, Cody (Courtney: Brody, Brylee and Briggs) of Raymondville, Brad (Whitney: Alexa, Adieson, and Chad) of Battlefield, Addison of Houston, Kylee of Nixa, Keaton (Sarah: Jack) of Kansas City. Siblings: Lena Beatrice Flores (George) of Nixa and Carl Leon (Dianne) of Annacoco, LA and a host of nieces and nephews.

Irley grew up and attended school in Frederick, Oklahoma graduating from Frederick High School in 1956. This was an accomplishment he was proud of. During his high school years, he was active in sports and a member of the local FFA chapter.

Shortly after high school Irley met Loretta Elkouri. They were married on February 2, 1957. Right after getting married Irley began his career in construction. Moving to California to build apartments. In February 1960 he was drafted into the US Army and attended basic training at Fort Carson, Colorado. Irley was then stationed in Baumholder, Germany where he was a driver for the Headquarters Company of the divisions 26th Infantry.

After being discharged from the army, he and Loretta moved back to Snyder, Oklahoma where they started their family. Irley was an entrepreneur, so he continued his career in construction, along with opening a carpet store in Snyder. After business was booming, he told Loretta it was time to go somewhere else as they had sold carpet to everyone in town. His construction career consisted of building apartments, businesses, houses, and barns. Not just California but also Oklahoma and Missouri. In 1969 Irley moved his family to Missouri where his career continued, along with continuing raising beef cattle as his family had been doing in the US since 1920. He began purchasing farms to raise Herford cattle. He then switched from Herford to Charolais. His passion was raising Charolais bulls to sell or rent along with a custom hay business. Life on the farm raising cattle with his son Rodney and grandson Cody is what he enjoyed.

Irley was proud of his children and grandchildren and all their accomplishments. He may not have told them, but he let others know.

He was well known for his mischievous personality! If you worked for him or were around him for a length of time, you were usually subject to his orneriness. Whomever was around to witness this, Irley was sure to give them a wink and smile to let them know. He was always a kid at heart and loved to drive fast. When making trips to see family and friends in Oklahoma, there would be no stops on the way. No need to slow down. While there, Irley, his cousins and friends would drag race their cars and often time Rodney would be laying in the back window riding along. One time a state patrol stopped outside the gate at one of Irley’s farms. The state patrol asked him if he knew how fast he was driving? Irley said no, is that illegal? The patrolman said no but 50mph is the fastest I’ve ever seen someone drive across a field. Irley then stated “well, if you’re not writing me a ticket, get out of my way. I have work to do.”

Irley came to know Christ as his Lord and Savior at a young age, then later in life, in 2010 he came back to renew his relationship with Christ. He attended Souls Harbor Church faithfully until his death.

Irley always had a story to tell. Today tears will fall for what was the past but Irley’ s future has been made new and we get to tell the stories now.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests donations to the Boone Creek Cemetery in Irley's memory.