John Arthur and Mary Lou McNeel

John McNeel and family, Mary Lou, Henry, Betty Lou and John.

John Arthur McNeel (1910-1990)
Lot 307 / Plot 5 Highland Cemetery New Castle Colorado
Born June 15, 1910 - Warrensburg, MO
Died October 21, 1990 - Grand Junction, CO
Wife - Mary Lou (Gilmore) McNeel-Manning (Married Oct. 10, 1932 - Unitah Co., UT) John & Mary Lou eloped.
Children - John A. Jr. (Jack), Betty Lou (McNeel) Woodard, Henry Allen (Hank)
Parents - Ernest David & Maryetta (Adams) McNeel
Siblings - Robert (Bob), Carl Adams, William (Bill), David Ernest
(All of John's brothers would change the spelling of their last name to McNeal)
John lived in Williamsburg, Missouri until age 12. In 1922 the family moved to Brush, Colorado. John's father, Ernest, and John's four younger brothers came to Colorado by train to begin farming preparations. John and his mother, Maryetta, traveled by wagon with the family's belongings. John attended grade school in Warrensburg, and Brush, CO. In 1927 the family moved to Wallace Creek, near Garnd Valley, CO, at which time John quit school to work the farm, allowing his 4 younger brothers to attend school. In 1928 the family moved to Peach Valley near New Castle. John was a farmer and a rancher, he farmed on Divide Creek and in Peach Valley and east of New Castle on Bruce Road. He rode herd for a number of ranch operations, including the No Name Cattle Pool and the Meadow Creek Cattle Pool. He also worked many years for Hank Williams on the Rock-N-Pines Ranch. John also spent several years working road construction projects including the Million Dollar Highway and the Buford Road.
Appreciation to Howard E. Woolard for photos and information.

Mary Lou Gilmore was born July 25, 1915 in New Castle, CO and passed away January 2011

She was the daughter of Maude Burnett and Jay Gilmore. She and her brother Marion were adopted and raised by their grandparents, Mary Ellen and Marion Burnett in New Castle. She attended New Castle Schools.

Mary Lou married John A. McNeel in 1932 in New Castle. Three children were born in this union: John A. McNeel Jr. (Jack), Betty L. Richardson and Hank McNeel. They were later divorced and Mary Lou married Wilbert Manning in 1973. They lived in Palisade, CO for 17 years. Both Wilbert and John are deceased.

Mary Lou is survived by her three children and their spouses, Jack and Nina McNeel of New Castle, Betty and Ray Richardson of Silt, and Hank and Rita McNeel of Shepherd, MT; nine grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren and five great great-grandchildren; as well as numerous nieces and nephews, and she loved them all!

A memorial service is planned for Saturday, Jan. 8, 2011 2:00 pm at the E. Dene Moore Care Center in Rifle. A graveside service will be held Monday, Jan. 10, at 1 p.m. at Highland Cemetery in New Castle.

John McNeel

John McNeel at Cow Camp

   

Highland Cemetery New Castle, Garfield County, Colorado

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