Mary Neal Ellis, 99, of Florence, passed away peacefully at the McLeod Hospice House, Florence, SC, in the early hours of July 11, 2018.  She was born in Houlka, Mississippi, on August 28, 1918 to the late Calvin Baxter and Ola Neal McAbee.  Neal was predeceased by husband, Irving Lyle ("Hook") Ellis; three brothers, Blease, Jimmy, and Kimble; and a sister, Dorothy.

She is survived by her two sons, Calvin Lamar (Judy Kilmartin) Ellis of Reston, VA, and Irving Lyle (Margaret) Ellis, Jr. of Camden, SC; two grand daughters, Kimberly Neal (Wayne) Thierrien of Lugoff, SC and Mary Claire (Andy) Stinson of Newnan, GA; and five great grand-children, Katie, Tori, and David Thierrien and Luke and Elizabeth Stinson.

She was a devoted wife and mother, a passionate supporter of her sons' athletic endeavors, and an avid fan of the NY Yankees and Atlanta Braves.  Neal loved music and was an accomplished singer.  She was a member of a family quartet that won awards on radio WSM in Memphis, TN, was lead singer for the Mississippi State University "Cadets" dance band, was a dedicated alto member of church choirs in Memphis, Richland, WA, Orange, TX, Circleville, OH, and Central Methodist in Florence, SC, and was a member of the Florence, SC, singing group, "The Entertainers".

Neal's family would like to thank the staff of the Magnolia Terrace at the Methodist Manor in Florence for their dedication and patience shown in serving our mother over the past several years.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the McLeod Hospice, 1203 Cheves St., Florence, SC, 29506 whose nurses and staff took such compassionate care of Neal in her final days.