Mary Ellen Mcneal

Mary Ellen Cook McNeal, 103, the oldest resident of Hampton, Illinois, died Wednesday, October 2, 2013, in The Lighthouse of Silvis, Silvis, Illinois.

Services are 10:00 a.m. Monday in the Celebration of Life Chapel at Trimble Funeral and Cremation Center, Moline. Burial is in Moline Memorial Park. Visitation is 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Sunday. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Hampton Historical Society.

The former Mary Ellen Cook was born August 10, 1910, in Coal Valley, Illinois, the daughter of Abraham and Phoebe (Houldsworth) Cook. She married George Cornelius McNeal on November 22, 1928, in Monmouth, Illinois. Theirs was a beautiful love story and a happy marriage. She and George restored and lived in the historic Brettun House in Hampton, built 175 years ago by Saranas Brettun, who platted the Village of Hampton in 1838. The house was later owned by George McNeal, Civil War veteran, first child born to Hampton founder Henry McNeal. Mary Ellen enjoyed saving and living in this bit of history. George preceded her in death on April 18, 1987.

She belonged to the Hampton United Methodist Church and was a charter member of the Hampton Historical Society. She was an avid college basketball and NBA fan, cheering for the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets. She was very close to all her family. She never missed giving a gift, and made a chocolate cake for every grand and great-grandchild's birthday. She and George helped with their care, schooling and needs. They all loved her dearly.

Mary Ellen is survived by two daughters and a son-in-law, Beverly and Jack Coder, and Mary Jane Nelson, all of Hampton; grandchildren and spouses, Christopher M. and Marcelle Coder of Flagstaff, Arizona, Tad W. Coder of Moline, Elizabeth E. Coder and Dan Kosminsky of Rapids City, Illinois, Melinda A. and Rev. Myron Erickson of Chicago, Illinois, Marc A. Nelson of Hampton, Martha A. Nelson and David Aaron of New York City, and Merlin A. Nelson of East Moline, Illinois; great-grandchildren, Hanna M. Coder, Claire E. Coder, Katee Coder, Merry E. and Kane Keller, Jack B. Coder, Christopher W. Kosminsky, Rebecca A. Kosminsky, Linley M. Erickson, and Victoria E. Nelson; a great-great-grandson, Maxwell Correa; a niece that Mary Ellen always considered a daughter, Frances A. Karr of Sarasota, Florida; nieces and nephews, George H. McNeal, Raymond Cook, Rosalie Neppl, Mary F. Johnson, Lois Leif, Mary Ellen Sandahl, Linda Venable, Donna Boens, Robert Martin, Ira Cook, Virginia Edwards, and Marvin Cook; many grandnieces and nephews; and many friends, including Sally Vogel of Wilmette, Illinois, whom was always included as a daughter by Mary Ellen.

She was preceded in death by her husband; brothers, Ira, Louis, Willis, Everett, and Alwyn Cook; sisters, Adessa Sowash and Margaret Martin; a son-in-law, Merlin A. "Rocky" Nelson, nieces and nephews, Judge H. William McNeal, Dan H. McNeal, Bill Cook, Evelyn Kuhlman, and Martha Poulter.

Thank you to the caring staff at Lighthouse, who made her last days so pleasant.

Please visit Mary Ellen's personal memory page at www.TrimbleFuneralHomes.com to light a candle, leave a memory, or sign the online guestbook.