MCNEIL, Ruth Julia

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona ~ 09/05/2014 Ruth Julia (Souther) McNeil died Aug. 28, 2014, of natural causes. She was born July 14, 1925, in Fletcher, N.C., to Oney Bergin and Julia Maud Souther, the seventh of nine children. In 1946, Ruth married Green Barry “Butch” Mayo, who was later killed while serving in the military during the Korean War. She subsequently married Dell Ray McNeil Oct. 22, 1952. After Dell retired from the U.S. Army in 1964, they settled in Show Low. Ruth very proudly opened her craft shop, Mac’s Ceramics, where she enjoyed meeting people and teaching crafts for 50 years. Ruth’s adventurous spirit also led her to world travels to Japan, Europe, Australia, Russia and South America. Ruth is survived by two sisters, Blanche “Bumble” Baker of Fletcher, N.C., and Bertha “Pat” (Phil) Bacon of Scottsdale; two children, Debra (Skeeter) Brimhall of Taylor and J.O. (Lynda) McNeil of Glendale; eight grandchildren, Jeninne, Tori, Ammon, Kaleb, Falon, Sayre, Logan and Jared; and 29 great-grandchildren. Ruth was preceded in death by her husband, Dell McNeil, in 1973. “Our loving mother went to be with the Lord and will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.” A family memorial service will be conducted in North Carolina at a later date.