Jessie Neal
Service: 11 a.m. Saturday, April 28, at the First Baptist Church of Lead Hill, with burial at Cedar Grove Cemetery; Visitation: 5-8 p.m. Friday, April 27, at Roller-Christeson Funeral Home.
Jessie Lee Morris Neal, of Lead Hill, passed away Monday, April 23 (2018) surrounded by her family. She beat the odds she was given and celebrated her 87th birthday on March 30. Jessie was born in Indianola, Iowa, to Jim and Arlene Morris.
Growing up during the Great Depression wasn’t easy, but it gave Jessie a feisty spirit that helped her build a better life. She married James Robert Neal on Nov. 23, 1951. Together, they traveled the country with his pipeline work, living in Kansas, Tennessee, New York, Connecticut, Arizona and even Canada.
After 11 years of marriage, Jessie and Bob were blessed to adopt two beautiful babies in late 1962. Burt and Amy were the children they had hoped for, and they loved them with all their hearts. In 1969, Jessie and the children moved to Lead Hill to be near her mother while Bob worked on the Alaskan Pipeline.
Ms. Neal, as she was known to the kids, began working as the secretary to the superintendent of Lead Hill School in 1974. For 22 years, she kept the books and ledgers, maintained files, and she was responsible for state reports and the other behind-the-scene tasks that keep a school running smoothly. Her favorite part was when she got to interact with the children. She taught herself calligraphy, and most of the diplomas of Lead Hill graduates up through 1996 bear her writing.
She was a member of First Baptist Church of Lead Hill, where she taught Girls in Action (GAs), Sunday school, and Vacation Bible School for many years. She was an active member of the local VFW Auxiliary and enjoyed lively political discussions.
Jessie was a voracious reader, who passed on her love of books to many of her children and grandchildren with frequent trips to the library. She was an excellent seamstress, who made her own stylish suits and dresses. She loved hummingbirds, sunflowers, travel and a good breeze. Her children and grandchild all knew her signature squint that kept everyone in line without a word.
She joins her husband Bob in heaven, along with her mother and father, brother, Lyle Morris, and grandson, Charles Dixon.
Jessie leaves behind a legacy of love with her children and their spouses, Amy and Jeff Dixon, of Lead Hill, and Burt and Patricia Neal, of Leesburg, Virginia. She is also survived by her sisters, Mary Morris, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Virginia and Gene Harms, of Lincoln, Nebraska. Jessie’s grandchildren include Renee Langston, Jessica Kibling, Weston Neal, James Neal, Zac Neal, Khandi Bost, Bryan Thomas and Sarah Thomas, and many great-grandchildren.
The family would like to thank Hillcrest Nursing Home staff for the dedicated and exceptional care that they provided to Jessie during her final years. They were truly a blessing.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, April 27, at Roller-Christeson Funeral Home. Funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 28, at the First Baptist Church of Lead Hill, with burial at Cedar Grove Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Jessie’s honor to support Lead Hill School students at P.O. Box 20, Lead Hill, AR 72644, or The Call at 725 West Sherman, Suite C, Harrison, AR 72601, to support fostering and adoption in Boone County.
Jessie loved to send and receive cards and letters, and always signed off with “God loves you, and I love you.”
Sign the online guestbook at rollerfuneralhomes.com/harrison .
