Mary Ellen Goodman Neff passed away on Monday, March 30, 2026, at the age of 86, in Winchester, Virginia.

Mrs. Neff was born January 2, 1940, in Grasonville, Maryland on the Chesapeake Bay, at home to Joseph Stanley and Ellen Marie David Goodman. The Davis family was from Waynesboro, Virginia, and the Goodman family was from Chestertown, Maryland.
Ellen graduated from Washington & Lee High School, Class of 1958 in Arlington, Virginia. She married Richard R. Neff, Sr. in 1958, and moved to Stephens City, Virginia, to the family farm. They built their own home in the 1960’s, and started R.R. Neff Construction Co., Inc., building homes, excavation, and paving. Richard preceded her in death in 1996.

Surviving are their children, Janie L. Barbario of Florida, and Richard “Rick” R. Neff, Jr. and wife Christia of Middletown, Virginia; two granddaughters, Jackie (Greg) Hart of Georgia, and Jessie Tumblin of Florida; five great-granddaughters, Dezarae Tumblin, Beyonca Tumblin and Payten Tumblin of Florida; and great-granddaughters Kylee Kalb (Evan) and Ava Hart of Georgia; great great-granddaughters, Ellie Lavonne Kalb, and Leilani Madonna Tobin; sister, Anita (Ron) Peterson of California. Her significant other, Charles “Lang” Gordon, preceded her in death in 2010.

In 1998, her son Rick started M.E.N. Contracting, LLC, where Ellen worked for 27 years. The company consists of residential site work, water lines, footers, and building pads, with also a division for paving, driveways, and parking areas. They paved the way for the first picnic shelter at Opequon Presbyterian Church.

Ellen was a member of Epsilon Sigma Alpha International and served on local committees and state offices. She was Woman of the Year for the Chapter Alpha Omega and Beta Nu of Winchester. Ellen also chaired fundraisers for St. Judes Children’s Hospital, the Ronald McDonald House, William, and Henry Evans Home for Children, and ASK of Richmond, VA for childhood cancer. She also chaired the Rock-A-Thon at McDonald’s for “Special Love” 4-H Center in Front Royal, VA.

Ellen participated in the Winchester Memorial Hospital Follies for the hospital auxiliary, performing in “New York, New York”, “We’re in the Money” and “Sioux City Sue”, and participated in the Apple Blossom Festival while she and Richard squired the stars and football players around town in the family’s convertible.
Ellen and family have been members of Opequon Presbyterian Church since 1967. She served as Elder on the Session, as well as the History Committee, and helped with the unearthing of the history time box. She also served on the Building and Grounds Committee, helping plan and build the first picnic shelter (especially the water lines and parking lot) with her son Rick. Rick found the burn line of the old meeting house, along with old nails, etc. Ellen worked on the church history and members book and worked on the lighting and shrubbery around the Memorial Sanctuary and helped in the installation of the history signs.

“I am now in the time capsule with Lang Gordon and Bill Claytor; this was our way to serve the Lord.”

A funeral service with be held on Thursday, April 9, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Opequon Presbyterian Church in Kernstown, followed by a luncheon at the church. Burial will be private at Shenandoah Memorial Cemetery