Frances Lowrance McNeely, 87, of Salisbury, died Tuesday, April 15, 2008, after a brief illness. She was born on Aug. 1, 1920, in Barium Springs to Jay H. and Leila M. Lowrance.
She grew up in Barium Springs where her father was assistant superintendent of Barium Springs Presbyterian Orphanage. Living adjacent to an orphanage had a profound influence on her life and outlook towards others. After high school she attended Mitchell Community College and graduated with a home economics degree from Queens College in Charlotte.
In 1942, she married Bruce Parcell who was a World War II fighter pilot. He was killed in action in July 1944 in France .
Frances worked as a high school teacher and a home demonstration agent for the N.C. Agricultural Extension Service in Iredell County. It was there that she met and married Assistant County Agent Rowe R. McNeely. He died in 1979.
For 17 years, she was Food Service Manager at Rowan Memorial Hospital. She retired from the hospital in 1986. After retirement she spent her days serving in many volunteer roles with First United Methodist Church of Salisbury, the American Cancer Society, Habitat for Humanity, the Rotary Club of Salisbury, the Charity League of Salisbury, the Historic Salisbury Foundation and many other community organizations. One of her greatest joys was catering parties and special events for friends and colleagues. Her cooking skills were legendary. These skills were especially appreciated by the Barium Springs Alumni Association, for whom she hosted a garden party every spring.
She was also an accomplished artist, pianist and seamstress. World travel was another of her favorite activities. Among the places she visited were Kenya, South Africa, Russia, China, Australia, Italy, Indonesia, India and Pakistan. Her large close-knit family enjoyed such family traditions as an annual Christmas celebration and a beach trip each year to Pawley's Island, S.C. She was a true Southern lady in the best sense of that term and she will be sorely missed by her many friends and family.
Frances was preceded in death by her two husbands; her brothers, Fred and Wilson Lowrance; a sister, Ruth Rhyne; and daughter, Jane Harding.
She is survived by daughter, Bruce Anne Shook and husband, David, of Greensboro; daughter Rowena Hodge and husband, Jerry, of Newton; and son, Chris McNeely and wife, Carol, of Salisbury. Also surviving are nine grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and special life-long friend, Anne Winslow of Atlanta. Ron Harding, husband of her late daughter, Jane, and his wife, Lillian, also survive.
A memorial service and celebration of her life will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at First United Methodist Church in Salisbury with the Rev. Stephen D. Haines and the Rev. William H. Osborne officiating. The family will receive friends in the fellowship hall of the church following the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to her favorite charity, the American Cancer Society, 4 Oak Branch Drive, Salisbury, NC, 27407 or the Charity League of Salisbury, c/o Evelyn Reavis, Treasurer, West Rowan Mills Road, Salisbury, NC 28147. Summersett Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
Published in Statesville Record & Landmark on April 17, 2008
She grew up in Barium Springs where her father was assistant superintendent of Barium Springs Presbyterian Orphanage. Living adjacent to an orphanage had a profound influence on her life and outlook towards others. After high school she attended Mitchell Community College and graduated with a home economics degree from Queens College in Charlotte.
In 1942, she married Bruce Parcell who was a World War II fighter pilot. He was killed in action in July 1944 in France .
Frances worked as a high school teacher and a home demonstration agent for the N.C. Agricultural Extension Service in Iredell County. It was there that she met and married Assistant County Agent Rowe R. McNeely. He died in 1979.
For 17 years, she was Food Service Manager at Rowan Memorial Hospital. She retired from the hospital in 1986. After retirement she spent her days serving in many volunteer roles with First United Methodist Church of Salisbury, the American Cancer Society, Habitat for Humanity, the Rotary Club of Salisbury, the Charity League of Salisbury, the Historic Salisbury Foundation and many other community organizations. One of her greatest joys was catering parties and special events for friends and colleagues. Her cooking skills were legendary. These skills were especially appreciated by the Barium Springs Alumni Association, for whom she hosted a garden party every spring.
She was also an accomplished artist, pianist and seamstress. World travel was another of her favorite activities. Among the places she visited were Kenya, South Africa, Russia, China, Australia, Italy, Indonesia, India and Pakistan. Her large close-knit family enjoyed such family traditions as an annual Christmas celebration and a beach trip each year to Pawley's Island, S.C. She was a true Southern lady in the best sense of that term and she will be sorely missed by her many friends and family.
Frances was preceded in death by her two husbands; her brothers, Fred and Wilson Lowrance; a sister, Ruth Rhyne; and daughter, Jane Harding.
She is survived by daughter, Bruce Anne Shook and husband, David, of Greensboro; daughter Rowena Hodge and husband, Jerry, of Newton; and son, Chris McNeely and wife, Carol, of Salisbury. Also surviving are nine grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and special life-long friend, Anne Winslow of Atlanta. Ron Harding, husband of her late daughter, Jane, and his wife, Lillian, also survive.
A memorial service and celebration of her life will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at First United Methodist Church in Salisbury with the Rev. Stephen D. Haines and the Rev. William H. Osborne officiating. The family will receive friends in the fellowship hall of the church following the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to her favorite charity, the American Cancer Society, 4 Oak Branch Drive, Salisbury, NC, 27407 or the Charity League of Salisbury, c/o Evelyn Reavis, Treasurer, West Rowan Mills Road, Salisbury, NC 28147. Summersett Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
Published in Statesville Record & Landmark on April 17, 2008
Frances Lowrance McNeely, 87, of Salisbury, died Tuesday, April 15, 2008, after a brief illness. She was born on Aug. 1, 1920, in Barium Springs to Jay H. and Leila M. Lowrance.
She grew up in Barium Springs where her father was assistant superintendent of Barium Springs Presbyterian Orphanage. Living adjacent to an orphanage had a profound influence on her life and outlook towards others. After high school she attended Mitchell Community College and graduated with a home economics degree from Queens College in Charlotte.
In 1942, she married Bruce Parcell who was a World War II fighter pilot. He was killed in action in July 1944 in France .
Frances worked as a high school teacher and a home demonstration agent for the N.C. Agricultural Extension Service in Iredell County. It was there that she met and married Assistant County Agent Rowe R. McNeely. He died in 1979.
For 17 years, she was Food Service Manager at Rowan Memorial Hospital. She retired from the hospital in 1986. After retirement she spent her days serving in many volunteer roles with First United Methodist Church of Salisbury, the American Cancer Society, Habitat for Humanity, the Rotary Club of Salisbury, the Charity League of Salisbury, the Historic Salisbury Foundation and many other community organizations. One of her greatest joys was catering parties and special events for friends and colleagues. Her cooking skills were legendary. These skills were especially appreciated by the Barium Springs Alumni Association, for whom she hosted a garden party every spring.
She was also an accomplished artist, pianist and seamstress. World travel was another of her favorite activities. Among the places she visited were Kenya, South Africa, Russia, China, Australia, Italy, Indonesia, India and Pakistan. Her large close-knit family enjoyed such family traditions as an annual Christmas celebration and a beach trip each year to Pawley's Island, S.C. She was a true Southern lady in the best sense of that term and she will be sorely missed by her many friends and family.
Frances was preceded in death by her two husbands; her brothers, Fred and Wilson Lowrance; a sister, Ruth Rhyne; and daughter, Jane Harding.
She is survived by daughter, Bruce Anne Shook and husband, David, of Greensboro; daughter Rowena Hodge and husband, Jerry, of Newton; and son, Chris McNeely and wife, Carol, of Salisbury. Also surviving are nine grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and special life-long friend, Anne Winslow of Atlanta. Ron Harding, husband of her late daughter, Jane, and his wife, Lillian, also survive.
A memorial service and celebration of her life will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at First United Methodist Church in Salisbury with the Rev. Stephen D. Haines and the Rev. William H. Osborne officiating. The family will receive friends in the fellowship hall of the church following the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to her favorite charity, the American Cancer Society, 4 Oak Branch Drive, Salisbury, NC, 27407 or the Charity League of Salisbury, c/o Evelyn Reavis, Treasurer, West Rowan Mills Road, Salisbury, NC 28147. Summersett Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
Published in Statesville Record & Landmark on April 17, 2008
She grew up in Barium Springs where her father was assistant superintendent of Barium Springs Presbyterian Orphanage. Living adjacent to an orphanage had a profound influence on her life and outlook towards others. After high school she attended Mitchell Community College and graduated with a home economics degree from Queens College in Charlotte.
In 1942, she married Bruce Parcell who was a World War II fighter pilot. He was killed in action in July 1944 in France .
Frances worked as a high school teacher and a home demonstration agent for the N.C. Agricultural Extension Service in Iredell County. It was there that she met and married Assistant County Agent Rowe R. McNeely. He died in 1979.
For 17 years, she was Food Service Manager at Rowan Memorial Hospital. She retired from the hospital in 1986. After retirement she spent her days serving in many volunteer roles with First United Methodist Church of Salisbury, the American Cancer Society, Habitat for Humanity, the Rotary Club of Salisbury, the Charity League of Salisbury, the Historic Salisbury Foundation and many other community organizations. One of her greatest joys was catering parties and special events for friends and colleagues. Her cooking skills were legendary. These skills were especially appreciated by the Barium Springs Alumni Association, for whom she hosted a garden party every spring.
She was also an accomplished artist, pianist and seamstress. World travel was another of her favorite activities. Among the places she visited were Kenya, South Africa, Russia, China, Australia, Italy, Indonesia, India and Pakistan. Her large close-knit family enjoyed such family traditions as an annual Christmas celebration and a beach trip each year to Pawley's Island, S.C. She was a true Southern lady in the best sense of that term and she will be sorely missed by her many friends and family.
Frances was preceded in death by her two husbands; her brothers, Fred and Wilson Lowrance; a sister, Ruth Rhyne; and daughter, Jane Harding.
She is survived by daughter, Bruce Anne Shook and husband, David, of Greensboro; daughter Rowena Hodge and husband, Jerry, of Newton; and son, Chris McNeely and wife, Carol, of Salisbury. Also surviving are nine grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and special life-long friend, Anne Winslow of Atlanta. Ron Harding, husband of her late daughter, Jane, and his wife, Lillian, also survive.
A memorial service and celebration of her life will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at First United Methodist Church in Salisbury with the Rev. Stephen D. Haines and the Rev. William H. Osborne officiating. The family will receive friends in the fellowship hall of the church following the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to her favorite charity, the American Cancer Society, 4 Oak Branch Drive, Salisbury, NC, 27407 or the Charity League of Salisbury, c/o Evelyn Reavis, Treasurer, West Rowan Mills Road, Salisbury, NC 28147. Summersett Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
Published in Statesville Record & Landmark on April 17, 2008
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