Mary Frances McNulty McNeel

 

Mary Frances McNulty McNeel passed away on December 31, 1927. She was 51 years old. She had been sick for two days with pneumonia. Her funeral service was conducted from the Presbyterian church in Marlinton by Rev. J. C. Wool of Stony Creek and Rev. James O. Miles of Frost.

The obituary gives a detailed account of her life and activities in the church:

• She was born near Meadow Dale, Highland County, on July 11, 1876.
• Her parents were Wilson Dale and Frances McNulty.
• She married William T. McNeel on July 8, 1904 at the Old Presbyterian church in Marlinton. Rev. William T. Price officiated the ceremony.
• Although raised in the Presbyterian church, after her marriage, she joined her husband at the Pisgah Presbyterian church.
• After moving to Hillsboro, she moved her membership to the Hillsboro Presbyterian Church.

The obituary notes her dedication and commitment to the Presbyterian Church and her various activities:

• She was a Sunday School teacher.
• She was a strong advocate for the church and worked to improve it.
• For many years, she was active in the Woman's Auxiliary of the Marlinton Presbyterian church, where she was president for some time and served as secretary.

Beyond her church work, she was also involved in other movements and activities:

• She was interested in the movement for better schools in Highland.
• She later became a teacher and then principal at a school in Highland, Virginia.
• She was active in several other movements and interested in anything that would improve her native county of Highland and the state of West Virginia.

The obituary concludes by mentioning that Mrs. McNeel had been looking forward to the 25th anniversary of her wedding, which would have been July 8th. She passed away on December 31st, just a few months shy of that date.

Mrs. McNeel was survived by her husband, Thomas Summers McNeel; one daughter, Nancy, a student in West Virginia University; one sister, Mrs. Annie L. Arbogast, wife of E. M. Arbogast, now of Los Angeles, California; and one brother, Charles S. McNulty, attorney, of Roanoke.