Margaret (Taylor) Neel

Margaret Neel, age 100, of Kent, Ohio died on Friday, March 19, 2021 at her home.

Margaret was born January 27, 1921 in Zanesville, Ohio.  She was the daughter of Ernest and Vada (Miedel) Taylor.

Margaret graduated from Hopewell High School in 1938 and from Ohio Central Business College, Zanesville, Ohio.  She was an excellent typist and placed 5th in the state in a typing test.  After high school she moved to Zanesville where she worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  While taking violin lessons, she met Jasper Neel.  They performed in the Muskingum College Symphony Orchestra and the Meadow farm church Orchestra.

Jasper Neel and Margaret Taylor were married October 17, 1941.  They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on October 17, 2001.

During World War II Jasper served in the U.S. Army in Europe.  Margaret worked in Columbus, Ohio for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  After the war Jasper worked with his father selling John Deere equipment.  Margaret was the bookkeeper and secretary for the Neel Implement Company for 17 years.

In 1963 Jasper, Margaret and Phyllis moved to Kent, Ohio.  Margaret worked for a private Company for four years, then took a secretarial job in White Hall at Kent State University.

Margaret enjoyed sewing, counted cross stitch, crocheting, and embroidery.  She made many of her clothes and her daughter’s clothes.  She pieced several quilts and made alghans.

Margaret loved the beauty that God created.  She enjoyed planting flowers.  When she could no longer work in her flower beds, she enjoyed riding in the car to see the flowers and trees in bloom.

Margaret traveled to many U.S. states, Canada, and Mexico.  A trip to California to visit relatives provided an opportunity to see Yosemite National Park and the sequoia in Kings Canyon National Park.  Another trip took her to Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, Zion and Bryce National Parks.  A bear left his paw print on the window of the car in Yellowstone National Park.  She took many trips with friends along the Atlantic seacoast from Maine to Florida.

Margaret was a member of the United Methodist Church of Kent and the Mary Reed Circle.  She was a member of Guernsey Chapter 21 of the Eastern Stars and PERI Portage Chapter.

Thank you to Dr. David Uhall for the many times he assisted Margaret through difficult health problems.

She is survived by her daughter, Phyllis Neel, and many nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Jasper Neel, parents, Ernest Taylor, and Vada (Miedel) Taylor; sister, Doris Dillon and brother-in-law Leroy; brother, Richard Taylor and sister-in-law Mary, brother, Edwin Taylor; brother, Howard Taylor and sister-in-laws, Emma, and Bernice; sister-in-law Juanita (Neel) Weekley and brother-in-law, Gailen Weekley; sister-in-law, Virginia (Neel) Murray and brother-in-law, Jack Murray.

Calling hours will be held 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Tuesday, March 23, 2021 at Bissler & Sons Funeral Home.  Funeral services will be held 1:30 PM Tuesday, March 23, 2021, at Grandview Cemetery with Rev. Doug Denton officiating.  Entombment will follow at Grandview Cemetery.  Memorials may be made to the United Methodist Church of Kent, P.O. Box 646, Kent, Ohio 44240. 

Services in care of Bissler & Sons Funeral Home and Crematory, 628 West Main Street, Kent, OH 44240.

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