Shirley A. Neill

Shirley Ann Cantrell was born January 28, 1935 in Kansas City, Kansas to John Clifton and Hattie Pauline Cantrell. Shirley was the youngest of three children. She died Friday, April 29, 2011 at her home. While living in Kansas City, Kansas she attended Morris Elementary School and Central Jr. High. In 1948 she moved with her family to a farm west of Fair Play. She then attended Fair Play schools and graduated in 1954. Along with milking cows and completing chores, she found time to be a cheerleader at Fair Play High School. It was there at Fair Play High School she met and fell in love with Sonny Neill. Sonny would attend basketball games and would sit and wink at her while she was cheering. After a few months, Shirley asked Sonny out on a date. On December 18, 1954 Shirley Ann Cantrell and Hubert Lee Neill were united in marriage. To this union, three children were born; Tawanna Sue, Steven Lee, and Scotty Lynn. The couple settled on the family farm in Cedar County and spent the next 56 years farming and raising their family. In her younger years, Shirley worked and waited tables at the Truck Harbor in Bolivar. She worked as a prep cook at the State Park Marina on Stockton Lake and was employed at Wade's Supermarket in Bolivar. She is a member of the Bona Church of Christ. She loved her church family, took pride in being a Christian, and sharing her faith with family and friends. Shirley was very musically talented. She could play the piano, electric organ, and spent many hours singing with her family. She enjoyed giving piano lessons to many students. Shirley's hobbies included fishing, making crafts for family and friends, and caring for her family unselfishly. Preceding her in death were her parents, John Clifton and Hattie Pauline Cantrell, her father in law, Huberl Neill, a brother John Clifton (J.C) Cantrell Jr., and a nephew Dale Allen Carpenter. Left behind to celebrate her life include her husband of 56 years, Hubert Lee (Sonny) Neill, mother-in-law, Berniece Neill of Fair Play, and a sister, Von Ceil Carpenter and husband, Wilford, of Edwardsville, KS; a daughter, Tawanna Sue Rountree and husband Terry of Bolivar, son, Steven Lee Neill and wife Ronda of Bolivar, and son, Scotty Lynn Neill of Fair Play, a grand daughter, Shandra Elizabeth Rader and husband Jeremy of Springfield, four grandsons, Brent Aaron Rountree and wife Amy of Dadeville, Nicholas Cale Rountree and wife Erin of Bolivar, Jamison Heeth Neill of Springfield, and Garth Zachary Neill of Fair Play, two great-grandsons, Trayton Reice and Kaden Kale Rountree of Bolivar, a great-granddaughter, Mariska Shay Rader of Springfield, and two step-great-grandsons, Trenton Blake Rader, and Trevor John Rader; sister-in-law, Jean Fleeman, and husband, Ezra, of Kansas City, sister-in-law, Virginia Cantrell of Fair Play, nephews, Gary Carpenter, Neill Wayne Fleeman, Danny Cantrell, Jeffrey Cantrell and niece, Terry Rumfelt, and a host of friends and neighbors. Her beautiful blue eyes and calming smile will be deeply missed by all that knew her. She was always happy and upbeat, and never slowed down until her work was done. Up early getting her day started with coffee and smiles, she loved caring for her husband and family and always said, being a farmer's wife, mother, and grandmother is what she loved to do, and "was her hobby". She did so never complaining. Funeral services will be at 2:00 PM, Monday, May 2, 2011 at the Bona Church of Christ with Jim Polland officiating. Interment will be in Hartley Cemetery under the direction of Murray Funeral Home, Bolivar. Donations in Shirley's memory may be made to CMH Hospice or Fair Haven Children's Home in care of Murray Funeral Home, 911 W. Broadway, Bolivar, MO 65613 PDF Printable Version

Shirley A. Neill

January 28, 1935 - April 29, 2011