Benjamin Nathaniel Neff

Benjamin Nathaniel Neff, age 22, of Anderson, passed away after a battle with Leukemia on July 17, 2020. He was born on August 24, 1997 to the late Larry Neff Jr. and Cori Garner.

Ben self-taught himself to play keyboard and guitar and could play like an angel. He liked skateboarding, being in nature and doing all the things a boy and young man like to do. He always had a compliment, a smile, and a big hug whenever he knew someone needed him. He was there to help raise his brothers even though he himself grew up without a father. He was a wonderful son, friend, and his brothers father figure most of his life. He attained his H.S.E. and his driver’s license upon moving back to Indiana and was very proud of that. He worked at several places to help pay bills and take care of his younger brothers.

Benjamin began his journey with leukemia when he was 19 years old. It was a very rare form of cancer. He also had Wolf Parkinson’s White Syndrome which affected his heart. He went through 2 rounds of chemo during this, which was a series of chemo to kill the blood cancer each of the 2 times. He became very ill, then had a brief yet wonderful remission with his family surrounding him. The cancer came back and he had to have a bone marrow transplant from his brother to give him the closest match possible to overcoming the disease. The match was successfully grafted but Graft vs. Host Disease began attacking his cells and the immunosuppressants made it possible for various infections to set in and attack his organs. He lost most of his vision while it began attacking his other organs including his lungs. During the many hospital stays he fell, and the fall caused a pneumothorax to develop leaking air from the lungs. From there it developed into pneumonia and it led to other infections. He battled voraciously and went through multiple surgeries, chest tubes to drain fluid and air from his lungs, as well as hundreds upon hundreds of appointments, bone marrow boosts, painful procedures, trips to the E.R., various other doctors, and lengthy hospital stays.

He suffered and sacrificed greatly to remain with his family if he possibly could. He was saved and gave his soul over to God just a couple of years ago although he was always a believer of a higher power. Recently, Ben had to be placed on a vent respirator on life support. He stayed in that condition for 23 days. The condition continued to worsen until we no longer had a choice and had to have the life support discontinued to ease his suffering, and on Friday July 17th, 2020 he passed away peacefully surrounded by his mother, brothers, family, and loved ones.

Ben was a very special young man, loved by so many for his wonderful, peace-loving, funny, gracious, caring and self-sacrificing, family-oriented personality that cut straight to the heart of everyone he met. He never had a bad word to say about anyone and would defend his brothers, mother, and family at all costs. Family and love were everything to him. He loved with a love that was greater than love, it went all the way to his soul and beyond. He will be GREATLY missed by all of us and grieved so deeply by so many. We will meet again one day in a place far better than this world had to offer such a soul as Benjamins.  We will always remember and cherish the memories we all shared, and he will forever have a place in our hearts. We loved him and fought with him every step of the way but God called him home to ease his pain. He went with grace looking into his mom’s eye with the love shining so brightly for his brothers and family, that there was no doubt that he knew this was his time.

He regretted leaving so badly, but that he knew he had done what he had come to do and it was time to move on to what God was calling him to do, to join his father and grandfathers, reuniting with them in Heaven to watch over us all. He was 22 years young. God rest his weary over- burdened heart and bless his amazing awesome loving soul. May he rest in peace and be at ease and comfort until we meet again in that field of flowers dancing with his whole entire family as he dreamed and spoke of so lovingly. We will always love him and cherish greatly his memory forever until the end of time and beyond all the limits of the universes. He is greatly and painfully missed although also relieved that he no longer must suffer or hurt or be in pain like he was, ever again.

Ben is survived by his mother Cori Garner; brothers Jesse Cole, Timmothy Fultz, Lyric Cook-Tanksley, and Elias Cook-Tanksley; sister Alyssa Neff; grandmother Paula Watkins; grandmother Adonica Hillary (Gary); aunt Dana Coleman (Robert Foster), uncle Jeb Watkins, aunt Bobbi Ricker (Chris), aunt Brandey Neff, aunt Shannda Gregg (James), and uncle Zachary Welborn; his beloved pets; and many cousins and special friends.

He is preceded in death by his father listed above; grandfather Michael J. Watkins, grandfather Larry Neff. Sr., and cousin Chase Kumkoski.

A visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 22, 2020 from 1-2pm with a funeral service beginning at 2pm at Legacy Cremation and Funeral Service – Anderson. Burial will take place at Saunders Cemetery in Daleville, IN.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the family to assist with funeral expenses.