Doris Laurayne (Wilson) Neal, 97, of rural Dexter, IA, passed away November 5, 2015, at the Stuart Community Care Center. As she wished, her family will hold a private service at the Dexter Cemetery at a later date. Memorial contributions may be directed to the Dexter Roundhouse Fund and sent in care of the Funeral Home.
Doris was born August 30, 1918, in Guthrie County, Iowa, to Clabe and Leora (Goff) Wilson. She grew up in a family of five boys and two girls, in and around Stuart and Dexter, graduating from Dexter High School in 1936.
She played basketball for tuition at AIB and worked at Bishops Cafeteria for her meals. The highlight of this was playing in the national tournament in Wichita, KS.
After Pearl Harbor, young people started to leave for the service. Her two older brothers were in the Navy. Warren Neal and Doris's brother Dale soon were cadets in the Army Air Corps. As they became old enough, brothers Danny and Junior also became pilots.
Doris decided to join the WAVES, and had her physical and references, when Warren changed her mind. They were married in 1943, and lived in Marfa, Texas, where he taught cadets for two years.
Doris helped in the local USO for a time, then returned to Dexter for Joy's birth.
The Neals were in Marfa eight more months, then moved to Mesa, AZ, for Warren's four-engine training in B-17s. After a few weeks at Lincoln, NE, he was sent to El Paso, TX, as a commander of a B-29.
Doris and Joy returned to the acreage near Perry, IA, that her parents bought after all their sons had left for the war. Doris's three younger brothers did not survive the war.
Warren and his crew had a date to leave for Saipan when the war ended. He was discharged and moved to the Donald Shaw farm northwest of Dexter. Gloria was born when they lived there.
Neals bought a farm south of Dexter in 1951. Doris was Penn Township chairman for Farm Bureau, leader when the girls were in Brownies, Y-Teens, and 4-H. Doris taught Sunday School at the Dexter Presbyterian Church, participated in choir and the women's group, serving as treasurer for many years.
She is remembered by family members for her caramel pecan dinner rolls and potato salad. Neighbors remember her rural flower garden, even sending notes to let her know how much they enjoyed it.
Doris was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and brothers Delbert, Donald, Dale, Daniel, and Claiborne Junior. Also all of her husband's brother and sisters.
She is survived by daughters Gloria Neal of Dexter, Joy (Guy) Kidney of W. Des Moines, grandson Dan (Renee) Kidney of St. Paul, MN, and sister Darlene Scar of Stuart.
(Arrangements: Johnson Family Home & Cremation Services - Dexter Chapel)
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Dexter
Dexter, IA 50250
Johnson Family Funeral Home & Cremation Services
Stuart Chapel • 123 Northeast Secon Street, Stuart, IA 50250 • Phone: (515) 523-1200
Dexter Chapel • 814 Wash Ave. Box 57, Dexter, IA 50070 • Phone: (515) 789-4621
Earlham Chapel • 140 NW 2nd Street, Earlham, IA 50072 • Phone: (515) 758-2500
Redfield Chapel • 902 1st Street Box 404, Redfield, IA • Phone (515) 789-4621
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