Mary Elizabeth Neal

Mary Elizabeth Neal, 86, of Mt. Vernon, passed away at 12:44 p.m. 
Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2009, at St. Mary's Good Samaritan Hospital in Mt. Vernon. 
She was born in Burnt Prairie on Friday, April 7, 1922, a daughter of Ezekiel 
Harry and Camille Marie (Johnston) Vaught. She married Dr. E. Earl Neal on 
June 27, 1945, in Long Beach, Calif., and he preceded her in death on Dec. 20, 1989.

Funeral services will be held 10 a.m. Saturday at Hughey Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon 
with the Rev. Ryan Burge officiating. Interment will follow at Oakwood Cemetery in 
Mt. Vernon. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Mary is survived by a daughter, Ellen Marie Ferguson and husband David of Mt. Vernon; 
four sons, Dr. George Earl Neal and wife Barbara of Mt. Vernon, Dr. Charles Eugene Neal 
of Springfield, Richard Lee Neal and Sylvia Clower of Baton Rouge, La., and Thomas 
Michael “Tom” Neal of Springfield; four grandsons, Paul David Ferguson and wife Angela, 
Benjamin Andrew Ferguson and fiancé Andrea Micholag, Michael Wesley Neal of Mt. Vernon 
and Maxwell Thomas Neal of Springfield; a granddaughter, Kelly Elizabeth Neal of Springfield; 
and several nieces and nephews.

Her parents; her husband; one brother, Harry Vaught; and one sister, Pris Sanders, 
preceded her in death.

Mary was a homemaker and briefly taught high school early in life. She was a member of 
First Baptist Church in Mt. Vernon and the American Baptist Women’s Ministries of the 
church, the Hazel Morris Circle, the National Panhellenic Conference and was a volunteer 
tutor for Project Excel at Lincoln School. She was deeply devoted to helping any way she 
could with children’s organizations such as Toys for Tots and the Girl Scouts Little House 
program. An important facet in her social life was her participation in various bridge clubs; 
she enjoyed cooking, baking and collecting seashells while vacationing in Florida.

For those who wish, memorials may be given to the First Baptist Church and will be accepted 
at the funeral home, or from the online obituary at www.hugheyfuneralhome1969.com, or mailed 
to Hughey Funeral Home, P.O. Box 721, Mt. Vernon, IL 62864.Arrangements have been entrusted 
to the care of Hughey Funeral Home where you may call 242-3348 or visit 
www.hugheyfuneralhome1969.com for further information and to send condolences.  



Source: Mt. Vernon Register News
Date: 2/18/2009 - 2/20/2009
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