Muriel R. Neel, 63, passed away unexpectedly at her home on Monday, October 24, 2016, due to injuries sustained from a fire. Born in Burlington on August 16, 1953, she was the daughter of the late John C. Snow Sr. and Marion (Bissell) Snow May. On October 3, 1987, she married Harold T. Neel in Warren.
Muriel was a 1972 graduate of Harwood Union High School in Duxbury and then attended the Airline Stewardess School in Hartford, Connecticut. Ultimately, deciding that this vocation was not for her, she returned to Warren and was employed by the Sugarbush ski area serving in a multitude of positions that included housekeeping, serving in the cafeteria and ticket processing. In addition, she worked as a waitress for several bar/restaurants in The Valley.
Following her marriage, she and Harold moved to Maryland where she worked first at the Quality Inn in Frederick as the supervisor in housekeeping, later in shipping and receiving for Burlington Coat Factory and then as the manager of housekeeping, the kitchen and reservations for the Hampton Inn.
When her daughter was born, Muriel was a stay-at-home mom. With her daughter old enough to attend school, Muriel returned to work, cooking and serving at Mrs. B’s Bake Shop in Middletown, Maryland. In 1990, she and Harold moved to Lancaster, New Hampshire, where she was employed for several years as assistant manager in the jewelry department at Ames Department Store.
Returning to Vermont, they settled in Panton. Muriel worked as a private care provider for the elderly in their homes, from which she retired. In her leisure time, she enjoyed flower gardening, cooking, reading, traveling, collecting lighthouses and quilting with her daughter and cherished spending time with her large and loving family.
Muriel is survived by her husband of 29 years, Harold Neel of Panton; their daughter, Brandi N. Bean and her husband Andrew of Panton; two grandchildren, Brice B. Bean and Nyomi Lee Bean, both of Panton; her siblings, Gladys Stevenson of Washington, Lila Deveney and her partner Gerald “Beak” Gouker of Myersville, Maryland, Gwyn Balch and her partner David Armstrong of Waitsfield, Charles R. Snow of Warren, Leon R. Snow of Frederick, Maryland, and George R. Snow and his wife Linda of Arizona; as well as nieces, nephews and extended family. Muriel was predeceased by a brother, John C. Snow Jr.; two nephews, Adam Snow and Mark Stevenson; and two nieces, Kristie Stevenson and Shannon Touchette.
Memorial services will be held from Warren United Church on November 5, 2016, at 11 a.m. with a reception to follow in the Warren Town Hall. Inurnment will take place in the Warren Village Cemetery. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial gifts be considered to Warren United Church, P.O. Box 114, Warren, VT 05674. Assisting the family is Perkins-Parker Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Waterbury. To send online condolences please visit www.perkinsparker.com.
