Mabel Louise McNeil

As a young child Mabel and her two brothers lived in a Catholic orphanage. Life was very difficult during the depression years. In 1940 as a young woman, she traveled west and settled in Oregon.





Mabel raised two children who succeeded admirably; her daughter is a nurse and her son a veterinarian.





She worked to support the family yet always had time to be the Blue Bird and Campfire leader for Heather, and attend the basketball and track meets for Kirk.





Once she could afford to buy a car in the early 1950's she took the children on trips to the beach, up the Columbia river to visit the historic sites, and to Disneyland.





Mabel truly was a superb seamstress. She took hand-me-down dresses from friends and remade them into original dresses for Heather and coordinating ones for her dolls. She could put together a costume for any event, and when her children needed one, she did!





No one ever went hungry in Mabel's house. She knew how to cook and relished holiday time when she could show off her talents. Her daughter-in-law is still trying to make fudge as good as Mabel's.





For many years she spent her vacations in the Hawaiian sunshine in January or February. Once retired she began her world travels; visiting Japan, China, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, England and Ireland. Her home was filled with many treasures from these overseas adventures.





In her later years she maintained a large vegetable garden each summer and continued her daily 1-2 mile walks, stopping to visit with neighborhood friends and always petting any dog she met on the way.





One of her wishes was to have a doll house of her own. Granting her wish, her son Kirk built her one for Christmas, complete with electricity. She spent many hours decorating it; making the curtains, quilts, and rugs. The doll house has been a conversation piece, enjoyed by many and cherished by Mom.

Memorial Service was held on Sunday April 5, 2009, 2:00 pm at St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church, Wilsonville

Interment will be held at the Lebanon Cemetery in Langdon, ND.






Donations to: The Fossil Museum; P.O. Box 465; Fossil, OR 97830 For info: Marilyn Garcia 541-763-4440