Leona B. Neill, 93, passed away peacefully at Rowan Court Health and Rehabilitation Center in Barre on Wednesday, November 5, 2014. Born in Warren on August 17, 1921, she was the daughter of the late Glenn Downs and Mabel Brooks. On November 8, 1944, she married Clayton A. Neill in Warren. Clayton predeceased Leona on June 15, 1974.
Leona was a 1940 graduate of Montpelier Seminary. Following her marriage, she was busy and happy as a homemaker and raising her son Dale and stepdaughter Marla. Moving to Tahawus, New York, in 1950, Leona worked as a restaurant cook for several years, later was employed by the U.S. Postal Service in both Tahawus and Blue Ridge, NY, and then went to work as assistant to the town administrator in North Hudson, NY.
In 2006, Leona moved back to Vermont, settling in Barre, to be closer to family. She is lovingly remembered for the wonderful donuts, dinner rolls and a whole host of other baked goods and creations she made for all family occasions and get-togethers. In earlier years she enjoyed fishing and spending time at their camp on Lake Champlain.
Leona is survived by her son, Dale E. Neill and his wife Walene of Goodland, KS; two grandchildren, Cynthia Dulaney and her husband Scott of Elizabeth, CO, and Debra Schuessler and her husband Marc of Nanjemoy, MD; three great-grandchildren; three stepdaughters, Marlene Weston of Warren, Marla Miller of Riverton, WY, Linda Harvey and her husband Burley of Berlin; and step-grandchildren and their families; two sisters, Vera Ward and her husband Ronald of Moretown and Geralene Thompson of Norwalk, CT; a brother, Lester Cameron and his wife Marilyn of Moretown; as well as nieces, nephews and extended family. She was predeceased by a great-grandson, Jonathan Schuessler; stepson, Morris Neill; step-granddaughter, Pamela Harvey; two brothers, Bertrand and Randall Luce; and a sister, Arlene Crete.
Funeral services will be held from Warren United Church on a date and time to be announced this spring. Interment will be in Warren Village Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts would be appreciated to Rowan Court Health and Rehabilitation Center Patient Activities Fund, 378 Prospect Street, Barre, VT 05641. Assisting the family is Perkins-Parker Funeral Home in Waterbury. To send online condolences visit www.perkinsparker.com and Facebook.
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