Mazie Lee Neal

Mazie Lee (Dunn) Neal of Kansas City, Kansas, passed away in her home from cancer at 12:54 a.m. on August 1, 2015, at age 85. She passed on quietly and peacefully, just as she had lived. Visitation for Mazie will be held on Monday, August 3, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Chapel Hill-Butler Funeral Home in Kansas City, Kansas. Services will be at the funeral home on Tuesday, August 4, at 11:00 a.m. immediately followed by her burial in the Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens.

Mazie was born on October 20, 1929, in Haleyville, Alabama, to Lonnie and Bessie (Noles) Dunn, and was the fifth of eight children. Her family moved to Pemiscot County in the Missouri Bootheel in the 1930’s, where her father was a cotton farmer. Mazie attended schools in Pemiscot County, including Pascola Elementary, and graduated from Wardell (MO) High School in 1948.

Mazie married fellow Wardell High classmate, Wesley Neal, in Pascola, Missouri, on October 23, 1947. Wes had transferred to Wardell High from Deering (MO) High School his junior year and couldn’t help but notice the beautiful, tall, dark-haired girl. Within the first year of their marriage, the couple moved in 1948 to Kansas City, Kansas, where Wes quickly found work, and Mazie created a home for them. They have remained in Kansas City, Kansas, all these many years, raising their family of three sons and celebrating their 67th wedding anniversary last fall.

After the couple’s children were raised, and up until her health prevented it, Mazie worked alongside her husband in the operation of their business, the historic Boulevard Drive-In Theatre on Merriam Lane, in the Rosedale district of Kansas City, Kansas. Many will remember her from the box office and snack bar at the Theatre. In Mazie’s younger days, she enjoyed tennis and bowling with her husband and friends; attending musical events; visiting her parents, siblings, and other relatives in various states; and keeping busy with activities such as gardening, decoupage, crocheting, and sewing. She was faithful to her beloved Fair Haven Baptist Church for over 60 years, which she attended until her last few weeks when she no longer could.

Mazie was a quiet and unassuming person, and those who knew her speak of her great affection for family. She delighted in her grandchildren and great grandchildren in particular and welcomed them into her home as often as they could come. She also willingly opened her home to her in-laws, and was responsible for beginning the many reunions for Wes and his six Neal siblings who were scattered across several states. To the Neal family, she was another sister, not an in-law. Mazie also stayed in close touch with her own Dunn family, visiting them, having them in her home, and faithfully attending their Dunn reunions. One relative said, “She touched my heart with her kindness over and over. She was a role model for me, and I never felt judged by her. She just took me under her wing and helped me.” For many who knew Mazie, this quote fits, and we will remember her as one who quietly and gently touched our lives, even to the time of her death.

Mazie is preceded in death by her parents; one son, Stephen Neal; and five siblings, Mancil Dunn, Lucille (Dunn) Chastain, Elbert Dunn, Earl Dunn, and MaeLean (Dunn) Gaskins.

Surviving are Mazie’s husband, Wesley, of the home, and two sons, David Neal and wife Heather of Kansas City, Kansas, and Walter Neal and wife Kathy of Prairie Village, Kansas; plus two siblings, Vern Dunn of The Villages, Florida, and Mary Ellon (Dunn) Taylor of Portage, Indiana.

Four grandchildren survive Mazie: Tina (Neal) McClain & husband Doug of Kernersville, North Carolina; Chris Neal of Tucson, Arizona; Brian Neal & wife Clarissa of Overland Park, Kansas; and Ciara Neal of Kansas City, Kansas.

Six surviving great grandchildren are: Amanda Davis of Kernersville, North Carolina; Jessica Davis Donithan & husband Daniel of Kernersville, North Carolina; Lacey Thompson of Katy, Texas; Juliana Thompson of Katy, Texas; Dylan Neal of Overland Park, Kansas, and Ayden Neal of Overland Park, Kansas.

She had one great-great grandchild, Kayleen Thompson, of Katy, Texas.

Mazie is also survived by four Neal siblings-in-law: Ina (Neal) Bryeans of Gosnell, Arkansas; Wayne Neal of Antioch, California; Patricia (Neal) Harp of Springfield, Missouri; and Joy (Neal) Brown of Springfield, Missouri.

Mazie leaves behind many more loved ones, including nieces and nephews, church friends, and other relatives and friends.

A special note of thanks to David and Heather Neal who lived with Mazie and Wesley during all the months in which Mazie could not live independently; this allowed Mazie to stay in her home to the end. Probably just as helpful was David and Heather’s little 2-1/2 year-old Ciara, who was by Mazie’s side each morning and through the day, causing her to smile when her ailing body gave her no reason to. And at the necessary time, the great staff of Hospice came to the family’s side to guide them through the most difficult of times up the very end