Jean Neal’s quiet grace and elegance were always on full display. Thoughtfulness and caring for others were her trademark. No illness too small to send a get-well card, no gesture too slight for a thank you note. Words were her gift to others.
Jean H. Neal, a 45-year resident of Long Beach, IN, passed away on May 1, 2020 at her daughter’s home in Peachtree City, Georgia after a brief illness. She was 91.
Jean was born in Chicago, Illinois to the late Henry John and Mildred (Schulte) Krueger. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin school of journalism in 1951 and went directly to work for the Chicago Sun Times as a feature writer and later fashion editor.
In 1960, Jean married Albert D. Neal in Chicago, IL who preceded her in death in 2012. She was the perfect match for Al’s wit and creativity, and they forged a lifelong partnership of love and mutual admiration.
Jean left her newspaper career when her first child was born but began to write her book “Stock Market ABC” while he was a toddler. She finished it while waiting for the arrival of her second child. The book was published in April 1969 and two months later went into its second printing.
A voracious reader, Jean devoured books and newspapers, one after the other. She loved keeping abreast of current events and politics. She was always moderate but a fierce defender of a free and fair press.
Jean was the perfect hostess. She loved entertaining and always made memorable meals with even more memorable conversations around the table. There was nothing she relished more than finding “the perfect gift” for a friend or family member. Her thoughtfulness and attention to detail was born out of being a great listener and observer of those around her.
She was a devoted member of the First Presbyterian Church in Michigan City, IN, serving as a deacon and joining First Presbyterian Peachtree City after moving to Georgia in 2011. She volunteered for many years at Service League and was an active member of PEO.
Jean is survived by her children, Griffith Neal and his wife Jane of Alameda, CA, and daughter Leslie Neal and her husband Dr. Alfonso Martinez of Peachtree City, GA. She is also survived by her grandchildren Conor and Liam Neal, and Evan and Claire Martinez.
Jean’s ashes will be laid to rest next to her husband during a private family service. A memorial service to honor her life will be held later this summer.
The family asks donations to be made in Jean’s memory to the Goizueta Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at Emory University, 1440 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30322.
