Sally Neel

SIKESTON, Mo. — Sally Marilyn Davis Neel, age 86, passed away Jan. 12, 2024, at Delta South Nursing Care and Rehab in Sikeston, Missouri. She was born July 27, 1937, in Morrilton, Arkansas, daughter of the late Anual Garland Davis and Willie Edra Manes Davis. Sally was a member of the 1955 graduating class of Deering High School and received a Bachelor of Science in Education degree from Arkansas State University. She was an elementary school teacher for over 33 years, retiring from Sikeston Public Schools. She was named Sikeston teacher of the year in 1984. She also implemented the 1st kindergarten program in the McCarty R III Schools. She touched the lives of countless students, even having past students visit her frequently. She was lovingly known as “Grandmother” by her friends and family. Sally was a proud mother and grandmother who loved her children and grandchildren more than anything else in the world.

She was a member of First Christian Church, Sikeston Elks Lodge, Missouri State Teacher’s Association, Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, and Arkansas State Alumni Association. On April 19, 1957, she married the love of her life, Billy Gerald Neel; he preceded her in death Jan. 5, 2018. She is now at peace with her husband.

She is survived by Paul Neel of Sikeston and one daughter, Marilyn Rhea (Dennis) Spurlock of Sikeston; six brothers, Dewey (Betty) Davis of Jonesboro, Arkansas, Duane (Claudia) Davis of Granbury, Texas, Loyd (Shirley) Davis of Brooklyn, Arkansas, and Wendell (Sheryl) Davis of Mena, Arkansas, Jack (Shirley K.) Davis of Millersville, Missouri, and Keith (Trish) Davis of Paragould, Arkansas; two sisters, Linda Gail Case of Caraway, Arkansas and Rhonda (Robbie) Hamlett of Kennett, Missouri; one sister-in-law, Carolyn Davis of Texarkana, Texas; four grandchildren, Ben McMullin of Sikeston, Meyer (Meaghan) Neel of Denver, Colorado, Capt. Davis Logan Spurlock of Aberdeen, Maryland, and Martha Neel of Sikeston; and three great-grandchildren, Reagan Burden, Ivy Neel, and Aubrey Beau Burden.

In addition to her husband and parents, Sally was preceded in death by her loving stepmother, Ava Davis, one brother, Dan Davis, and one daughter-in-law, Cristy Baker-Neel, one brother-in-law Troy Case.

Visitation will be held Friday, Jan. 19, from 11 a.m. until time of funeral services at noon at Ponder Funeral Home. Amy Brentlinger and Darla Butler Yoakum, family friends, will officiate.

Burial will follow in the Sikeston Garden of Memories Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Clem Peters, Alec Burden, Logan Spurlock, Meyer Neel, Ben McMullin, Keith Davis, and Dennis Spurlock.

Honorary pallbearers will be Bill Wellborn, Bill Priday, Murray Sullivan, her brothers, her sisters, and special friends, JoAnn Sullivan, Ruby Silverthorn, Glenda Kelly.

Our family would like to extend a special thank you to her caregivers at Delta South Nursing Center and Missouri Delta Medical Center, especially the ICU.