Lena Mae McNeal

Lena Mae McNeal, 87, of Palmer passed away on Saturday, July 19, 2008 at Alaska Regional Hospital in Anchorage.

A celebration of life will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, July 25, at the Matanuska Assembly of God Church in Palmer. Pastor Randy Bjerken will officiate. Additional services will be held in Roseville, Calif. Her cremated remains will be interred at Roseville Public Cemetery.

McNeal was born March 30, 1921 at Gideon, Mo., to Otto and Mary (Spears) Hall. She made her home in Palmer since February 2006. She was a member of Matanuska Assembly of God in Palmer. She enjoyed quilting, cooking, visiting with friends and relatives, and politics.

Her family wrote, “Lena was known for love of family and watching Emeril and Paula Dean cooking programs. She loved camping at the ocean with her great-granddaughters. She loved going to McDonalds to get a sausage biscuit and a senior coffee with three creams. She loved teaching her great-granddaughter, Ashley, how to make pies. She always had candy in her purse. She loved to set up all her village decorations at Christmas time.

“Her granddaughter, Cari, remembers helping grandma set up her Christmas tree. On the day of her great grandson Chris’ wedding, the father of the groom, Colin, and 86-year-old Lena went to McDonalds in Arizona — he in his tuxedo and Lena dressed for the wedding. Colin told the workers they had just returned from their prom.”

McNeal is survived by her son and daughter-in-law Walter D. and Betty R. McNeal of Palmer, daughter and son-in-law Cheryle Y. and Curt Ehrlich of Valencia, Cal; son and daughter-in-law Mark and Deann McNeal of Shingle Springs, Cal; granddaughters Cindy Robinson, Suzanne Lancaster, Channon Morris, Cari Waters and Tina O’Sullivan; grandsons Shaun McNeal, Jason Ehrlich and Patrick McNeal; 17 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren; and twin sister Rena Hayden of St. Louis, Mo.

She was preceded in death by husband J.R. McNeal; son Wyman McNeal; and grandson Ed McNeal.

Memorial donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association.