Lorna May McNeal

Lorna May McNeal, 77, passed away peacefully and surrounded by family on November 21 after a nine-and-a-half-year battle with metastatic kidney cancer. Born on September 14, 1948, to Lauren and Edwinna Ramsey – she spent her childhood growing up in White City, Kansas as one of the five Ramsey girls before moving to Council Grove to start her freshman year in high school. Lorna married Craig McNeal in 1969, and they were married for more than 20 years and had two children.

Lorna worked as a secretary in the Morris County Sheriff’s Office, before she and Craig purchased and ran the McNeal Card and Party Shop for ten years. Most of her career was spent in the medical field with the Medical Records Department at Morris County Hospital and then with the gynecologic oncology team at St. Lukes Cancer Institute in Kansas City. She retired in 2014 to spend time with her children and grandchildren.

She was a member of the Council Grove Neota Club and was a 50 year “Golden Girl” with Chapter H PEO. Lorna spent many years traveling to swim meets, basketball, volleyball and football games, dance recitals, musicals, and the many other activities that her children were involved in. Watching her grandchildren grow was her greatest joy, and she would brag about them to every nurse and doctor she encountered during her battle with cancer.

As the cancer and weekly dialysis treatments started taking a greater toll – Lorna could be found relaxing on her daughter’s couch watching Judge Judy marathon’s, learning how to catch a smuggler, and watching every Hallmark movie at least twice – all while enjoying her favorite snack of a rice krispy treat and a Dr. Pepper.

Lorna was preceded in death by her parents Lauren and Edwinna Ramsey and nephew Mitch Durkes, along with her grandparents, several aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Lorna is survived by her son Michael (Kerri) McNeal of Olathe, KS; daughter Marci McNeal of Council Grove, KS; grandson Caden (and fiancé Anna) McNeal of Olathe, granddaughter’s Kenna McNeal of Olathe and Chloe McNeal of Council Grove, four sisters: Lynda (Brad) Admire of Emporia, KS; Lana Bennett of Overland Park, KS, Lissa Ramsey of Kansas City, MO; and the baby of the family Lora (Bill) Durkes of Kansas City, MO – along with her beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, great nieces, and extended family.

Services will be held on Saturday, December 6 at the Council Grove United Methodist Church at 11 a.m. A private burial will be held. Memorial contributions can be made to the Council Grove Area Foundation.