February 14, 2013 - Cecil McNeely Obituary

Yesterday I was expounding on the importance of re-visiting obituaries, even though they are often trite in their writing. There have been some beauties, but today's is fairly simple.  As I was reading it, I realized that again, our family has multiple siblings from one family marrying siblings of another.  This is the case with the McNeely's.  Yesterday I was reminded that Walter Brachvogel married Vernice McNeely.  Mabel Brachvogel married Cecil McNeely.  And I wondered if Cecil and Vernice were siblings.  Now I find out that they are.  Vernie married Walter Brachvogel.  Their sister Hazel married Frank Brachvogel.   Another sister, Mable ( there are two Mabels here) married Lloyd Cavenee, who was a lst cousin of Walter and Mabel.  I know that I have made some mistakes in this.  I think it would be best if I look at it another day. 

This obituary of Cecil McNeely was written November 21, 1975.

"Cecil R. McNeely died at his home in Redfield (SD) a tthe age of 76. 

Funeral will be held Friday at 2 p.m. in the First Congregational Church with Rev. Paul Opsahl officiating. Burial will be in Greenlawn Cemetery.

McNeely was born April 24, 1899 in Taylorville, Illinois.  In 1910 he moved to South Dakota and lived near Wessington, later near Highmore, Tulare, Athol and retired to Redfield in 1961.  He married Mable (Mabel) Brachvogel Nov. 28, 1925 in Aberdeen.  He was a member of the Odd Fellows and Rebekah Lodge, Senior Citizens of Redfield and Athol Congregational Church.

Survivors include five daughters, Mrs. Robert (Betty Jean) Jackson, Rapid City, Mrs. Glen (Eileen)Hoellein, Athol, Mrs. Jerry (Marion) Jackson, Fairbanks, Alaska, Mrs. Daryl (Donna Rae) Hogg, Miranda and Mrs. Jerry (Mary Lee) Stevenson, Minneapolis, Minn; two sons, Francis, Redfield, and Leslie, Coon Rapids, Minn; 22 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren, four sisters, Mrs. Hazel Brachvogel, Everett, Wash., Mrs. Vernice Brachvogel, Redfield, Mrs. Ruth Monfort, Vancouver, Wash., and Mrs. Mable Cavenee, Wessington; and two half sisters, Iris Bouma,, Vancouver, Wash., and Carmon Attebery, LaCenter, Wash.  He was preceeded in death by his wife."