In the small town of Packwood, Iowa, the life of 75-year-old Enola Mae Neff, a White female, came to a tragic end on July 26, 2016. Born in Fairfield and a lifelong resident of the Packwood area, she was a familiar and friendly face to many in the community. She had spent her entire married life in Packwood with her husband, Franklin Emory Neff, after their wedding on July 4, 1959.
Over the years, Enola had worked at the local grocery store, a feed store, and the town library, making her a well-known figure in the close-knit community of about 200 people.
The circumstances of her death were heartbreakingly clear and left no need for a search for suspects. On that Monday, Franklin Neff, her 79-year-old husband, contacted family and friends to deliver the shocking news that he had killed his wife and intended to take his own life. When sheriff's deputies arrived at their home, they found Enola had already died and Franklin was suffering from a self-inflicted head wound from a handgun found nearby. He later succumbed to his injuries.
A note left by Franklin Neff revealed the couple's struggles with health issues and his desire that they not become a burden to their family. The Jefferson County Attorney's office confirmed the incident as a murder-suicide. This devastating event left the community to mourn the loss of a woman described as always having a smile and a genuine interest in the lives of her neighbors and friends.
