Beverly Louise McNeal was the 6th of 9 children born to Maurine (Hawkins) McNeal and Dennis McNeal. Born July 6, 1951, she was raised on the family farm in Osborne county Kansas near Covert. She attended her first year of school (1st grade) in the two room school house in Covert. The following year the family changed schools to attend in Paradise as Covert did not have a high school. She graduated in 1969 from USD 399, Paradise, Kansas.
She joined three other siblings at Kansas State University the following year, a favorite story being that when these four went to enroll, her brother, Albert, would say “McNeal A,B,C,D” (Albert, Beverly, Charles, Deanna). She graduated with a BS degree in Elementary Education in 1973.
Her life led her down many paths. Work experiences included: Palo Alto Preschools, Affirmative Action for the state of Nebraska, Human Resources and Sales for Pitney Bowes Corporation, seminar leader for Fred Pryor Seminars, Business Development for Synergy BIS, Oak Tree Solutions and JANUS Associates, head of Strategy & Development for Simon Computing developing software for the Department of Homeland Security. On 9/11 she was in the Department of Agriculture building when the Pentagon was attacked.
In 1985 she received the “Woman of the Year “Award from the Omaha American Business Women’s Association and an “Honorary Commission” in the Nebraska National Guard with the rank of Colonel.
She actively participated in Al-anon for many years, wrote children’s stories and poetry, hosted annual soup suppers in her community, made Christmas loaves of bread for neighbors, and was active in politics, marching to support her beliefs, most recently in the No Kings Day. She had a great love for her family and was the proud Aunt to 100 plus nieces/nephews, great & great great nieces/nephews. The family especially remembers her talented flute playing and baton twirling. She had a great love of music and art, and loved to dance.
She considered herself a traveler having lived in Mesa, Az, Selma, Al, Texas, England, Omaha, Kansas City, Boston, Connecticut, and Alexandria.
She was preceded in death by her parents and one brother. She will be missed by her 4 sisters and 3 brothers, many nieces and nephews, her Virginia community and her very special alanon family.
She died in the home she loved in Alexandria, Va. on September 28, 2025.
Her service will be held at St. Martin de Porres Olivet Campus on October 11, 2025 at 10:30 am. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Boys Town of Omaha or a charity of your choosing.
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