May 16th is the day that Shook Our World....

I had just turned into my bed for the night to settle in to get some sleep or hoping to get some sleep.  Earlier in the day of the 15th my husband, Scot, drove to Kentucky and straight to Hospice Care where his father had been taken to earlier that day.  He had been suffering since December of 2023 with health issues and we were all told that he was in the last stages of his life.  None of us knew how long the last stages of life would be for Pop but May 16th at around 12:30am was when he took his last breath on this earth.  To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord and we knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that is where Pop is.  He is in no more pain and happier than he's ever been in his life.  He's there with his mom and dad and other family members that went before him.

He was the most amazing Pop I had ever known.  Our son had the best Popsie a kid could ever have.  Family is everything and Pop always put his family first.  He loved them immensely and we all knew it too.  He was so amazingly supportive of all that Tim has ever done and was doing at the time of his passing and Tim will always have that to carry with him for the rest of his life.  Tim has been amazing through the process of all that has happened since Pops passing too.  His hearts desire is to honor him to the best of his ability in his life.  Tim is such a great son and grandson.  We are beyond proud of the maturity of this kid and his love/respect for his family.  

Pop lived a great life.  He had such amazing stories that he told of all the family fun that they had had throughout the years.  He had amazing knowledge when it came to fixing just about anything but especially cars.  There wasn't much that he couldn't do mechanically.  If he didn't have a tool then he'd make one to get whatever job he had to do done.  I'm so glad that for near 17 years of married life to his son, Scot, that I got to know this incredible man.  He loved the Lord with all his heart.  His biggest desire was that all his kids and grandkids would know Jesus as their Lord and Savior.  He prayed prayers to that effect at almost every family gathering for the past 8-10 years.  Now with his passing it is our hearts desire and prayer to see all of the family know the Lord too so that we will all have a big family reunion when we all get to heaven with him.  

Because of family being what they are when a family member passes Pops obit got changed many times but what I'm sharing here is a copy of the first draft which Pops kids and Nan (his wife) put together before the other family members had to put their two cents worth in when they should have left well enough alone.  The first draft was the best draft and done quite well in my opinion.

This was the image they used.

This is how the obit read:

It's hard to forget someone who gave me so much to remember.

Franklin E. Neal, age 88, of Ashland, Kentucky, went home to be with his Heavenly Father on May 16, 2024, while resting at Community Hospice.

Frank was born in the warm days of summer in Ashland, Kentucky on August 16, 1935. He was the blessing of the late Orie and Adelle Fraley Neal. Frank was a graduate of Thomas R. Brown High School and a proud Army National Guard Veteran. From an early age, Frank took an interest in cars, especially ones that went fast. He loved to race them and rebuild them. He knew cars like the back of his hand and could tell you what was wrong with them just by listening to the engine purr. Frank could just about fix anything and if he couldn’t fix it, he would just make a new one. He was handy that way. Frank valued family over everything. He saw the importance of keeping his kids close. Frank loved the east coast and spent much time there with his family. The children have fond memories of a 13-week trip in a VW Van traveling up and down the coast. Frank found joy in camping in a motor home. He had a strong faith and attended church both at home and in Florida, He was a great man with a wonderful sense of humor that he passed on to his children. Frank was Husband, Father, Popsie to his grandchildren, a only brother, and a friend. He was loved by so many and will be missed by all.

Frank leaves behind his loving wife of almost 70 years, Doris Stergeon Neal, three devoted children Elaine Brown and her husband Kevin of Flatwoods, KY, Jeff Neal and his wife Debra of Richmond, KY, and Scot Neal and his wife Lisa of Wendell, NC, Five beloved grandchildren, Mysterie, Brittany, Joshton, Corey and Timothy, five precious great-grandchildren William, Victorie, Versai, Kylie, and Norah, and one brother Mike Neal of Catlettsburg, KY.

In addition to his parents, Frank was preceded in death by one sister-in-law Sandy Neal.

A memorial service to honor the life of Frank will be held at Neal Funeral Home, located at 2409 Center Street, Catlettsburg, on June 1, 2024 beginning at 8pm. Visitation for friends and family will be held prior to the service from 6pm to 8pm.

In lieu of flowers the family strongly wishes that donations be made to Community Hospice at 1480 Carter Ave., Ashland, KY 41101, or Saint Jude’s Childrens Hospital at www.stjude.org/donate.

Online Condolences may be sent to the family from our website at kilgorecollierfuneralhome.com or on Facebook at Neal-Kilgore & Collier Funeral Home.

Neal-Funeral Home is honored to be caring for the family of Franklin E. Neal.

It was really well written and put together by Pops brother's funeral home.  They did an amazing job with it.  

To say Pop will be missed is an understatement.  He was the patriarch of the family and we all loved him dearly.  He was the glue that bound us all together.  Things will never be the same from this point on because of missing his presence every time that we are all together.  We are thankful for all the memories that we all have and can share with one another.  He will live on in us all even though his physical body is gone.   

I am currently putting together a picture video montage for the Celebration of Life service and once it's done I will share the link here.  There won't be any music on it because the family is having the funeral home play Pops playlist over their sound system while the video plays on their tvs.  Pop loved all the music from the mid 40's to the 60's so anytime that we want to watch it at home that's the music I'll always play in the background.  

He left such a great legacy behind in his kids and grandkids.  Now if they can remember that they are his legacy and live their lives like it then that will be the absolute best way that they can honor and pay homage to such a great man.  

Here's some candid pics in no particular order for you to enjoy as well:

Pop and teenage Scot.

Pop loved Porches.

I will share more in another post later because the computer is giving some format issues.