Eldeva Mae Wyatt Neill, 85, of Kansas City, Missouri, passed away on October 18, 2010, at the North Kansas City Hospital-Northland Hospice House. Eldeva was born on March 9, 1925, in Jackson County, Missouri, the daughter of Orville Lee Wyatt and Nannie Lee Mae (Burrus) Wyatt. She was educated in the Kansas City area and received her Bachelors of Arts in Business Administration from Park University and had also completed coursework as Rockhurst College, where she had formerly served as an advisory director. She was united in marriage to Gordon Neill on 14 May, 1942. Eldeva began her career with UMB in January of 1943 as an accounting clerk at the bank's downtown location on Grand Avenue. Through the years, she was promoted through the positions of auditor, assistant vice president, vice president and comptroller, eventually being named senior vice president and comptroller in 1975. Eldeva retired in 1994 from the Crown Center Banking Center and went back to work as a Consultant until 2000. During her 51 years at UMB, she played an active role in many community, civic and professional organizations including past president and life member of the Kansas City Chapter of the American Institute of Banking, past president of Financial Women International, Kansas City Chapter; past director of the Women's Chamber of Commerce; past president and chairman of the finance committee of the Zonta Club International in Kansas City, MO; past international finance chairman of Zonta International; past president of the Kansas City, MO Business and Professional Women's Club; founder of the Women's Prayer Breakfast in Kansas City; director of City Safe Deposit Company; was an active member of the finance committee of First Baptist Church of North Kansas City. Other outstanding accomplishments during Eldeva's career include listings in "Who's Who of American Women" and "Who's Who of International Women," and she was the recipient of the Kansas City Chapter of Financial Women International's 1992 "Woman of the Year" award as well as a national leadership scholarship from the National Association of Bank Women early in her career. Through her career at UMB and community involvements, she gained many friendships and helped develop the personal and professional lives of numerous people. She was a friend to all and a "mother and grandmother" to many. Eldeva had no children of her own, but helped raise many of her nieces and nephews who lovingly called her Deedee. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Gordon Neill; sister, Ivadelle Bergschneider; brother, Leo Wyatt; niece, Marian Hatfield; and a nephew, Billy Wyatt. Eldeva is survived by her sister, Orvilla Kerr & husband, Kenneth of Kansas City, MO; nieces and nephews, Joyce Fox, Beverly Braxdale, Janice Kay Wyatt Clack, Leslie Wyatt & Dee, Mark Wyatt, Nancy Velder, Angela Beck, Ronnie Hatfield, Havoc Hatfield, and Kyle Wyatt; as well as numerous great nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends from 6:30-7:30 p.m., Thursday, October 21, 2010, at the First Baptist Church of North Kansas City. The funeral service will be held at 7:30 p.m. at the church with Pastor Tiger Pennington officiating. The family will also receive friends from 1-2 p.m., Friday, October 22, 2010, at Meyers Funeral Chapel. Burial will be held at Blue Springs Cemetery at 2:00 p.m. The family suggests memorial contributions to either Northland Hospice House or First Baptist Church of North Kansas City. Condolences and memories of Eldeva may be shared with the family online at www.meyersfuneralchapel.com. M
Published in Kansas City Star on October 20, 2010