Beverly McNeil

Our beloved mother, Beverly Jean (Jones) McNeil, 77, was born Jan. 7, 1935, in Boise. She entered into her final rest on March 5, 2012, in Mountain Home. She was the third child of Willie Luther Jones and Ethel Mae (Corn) Jones.

She led a fairly normal quiet life while growing up in the four-room, blue clapboard house built by her father on the corner of Division and Warren in Boise. She went to school in Boise.

Beverly married Thomas Smith McNeil on Dec. 1, 1951, in Boise. Ten children were brought to this union. The marriage was later solemnized in the Idaho Falls.

She joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1960. She was baptized in Baker, Ore. From the moment she joined, she was very active in the various programs and callings she received. Mom was a "stay at home" mom and believed in serving and helping as much as possible. She loved to go visiting teaching. She was a music director for primary sacrament.

Mom and Dad spent most of their lives exploring the beauties of the Pacific Northwest where Dad worked as a forest firefighter, a logger and whatever he could find. Mom raised most of her kids in a white mining tent near the banks of whatever creek we would camp near for the fire or logging season. Mom was a trooper and enjoyed those days. Finally in 1971, they settled down in Mountain Home where she remained for the remainder of her days.

She had a beautiful singing voice and loved music. Any road trip, whether it was a Sunday drive or traveling long distance, was spent learning and singing hymns and primary songs.

Later in life, she sold Avon and received a couple of awards for outstanding salesmanship. After her children left home, she became involved with the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), including serving from 1992-1993 as Auxiliary Commander.

Beverly leaves behind her children, Charlotte Ann Melody and her husband, James Fairbanks of Lacon, Ill.; Betty Jean and her husband, Brandt (Tut) Whitney; Thomas (Buster) Mayland McNeil; Theresa Noreen Shield and her husband, Shane; Emaly McNeil all of Nenana, Alaska; Robert Daniel McNeil of Austin, Texas; and Victory James McNeil and Christina Mae Morrison of Mountain Home along with 19 grand children and 36 great-grandchildren; her brother, Kenneth (Nancy) Jones of Tipanuk, her sister in-law, Margaret and her husband Dr. John Bideganeta of Mountain Home; her brother-in-law Boyd McNeil, of Tooele, Utah; and several nieces and nephews.

Those preceding her and waiting to greet her with open arms are her husband, Thomas Smith McNeil; her parents; a brother, William (Billy) Jones; a sister, Betty Mae Sexton; as well as baby boy McNeil, baby girl Tammy Rayelene McNeil and three granddaughters.

Funeral services were held on Monday, March 12, 2012, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and burial followed at Mountain View Cemetery. Arrangements were under the direction of Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel.