Funeral services for Mary Lou Mathews McNeel, 83, of Waskom, Texas will be held at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 3, 2022, at Downs Funeral Home of Marshall, Texas. Interment will follow at Colonial Gardens Cemetery.  A time for visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. preceding the service.

Mary Lou was born on October 25, 1938, in Sterling, Illinois to Allan "Cowboy" Mathews and Pearl Brooks Mathews. She passed away on May 27, 2022, in Marshall, Texas.

She married Patrick McNeel on June 20, 1962, and they celebrated 60 years of marriage. She graduated from Northwestern State University. She taught school for many years, teaching everything from Physical Education and Cheer to Math and Computer Science. She retired from Fair Park High School in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Mary Lou enjoyed trail riding and anything having to do with horses. She loved animals, especially dogs and cats. She also enjoyed traveling, shopping for a good deal, feeding the sea gulls and creating fun activities and adventures. Most of all she loved spending time with family.

She was a member of NATRC, a CASA volunteer, a 4-H and FFA supporter, and she was involved in many churches over the years. She had a great faith which was passed on to her children.

Preceding her in death are her parents, and her brother John Mathews.

She is survived by her husband, Patrick McNeel; son John McNeel and wife Laura of Vilonia, Arkansas; daughter Shirley McNeel of Marshall, Texas; daughters-in-love Kim and Donna Wilkins-Clark of Marshall, Texas, Paulette Walker of Harleton, Texas; grandchildren, Taylor Wiseman and husband Justin of Washington, D.C. and Mathew McNeel of Wilson, Arkansas; grandchildren-in-love, Kenzee Wilkins-Clark, Kacee Wilkins-Clark and Kadee Wilkins-Clark, both of Marshall, Texas and Samantha Phillips of Harleton, Texas.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made in her honor to your local FFA chapter.