Obituary for Pamela McNeal

Pamela Sue McNeal

April 21, 1943 – December 13, 2015

Pamela Sue Haines McNeal, former Ponca City and Tonkawa resident and current resident of Tulsa, passed December 13, 2015 at St. John Medical Center in Tulsa. She was 72 years of age.

Pam was born in Odessa, Texas on April 21, 1943 to Herman Richard Haines and Rachel Florene (Remy) Haines. The family moved to Velma, Oklahoma soon after where Pam was raised. Her mother started her with piano lessons at an early age and insisted that she accompany her while she sang. Pam developed her musical talents throughout school, graduating high school in 1961. Pam attended Oklahoma State University majoring in music, eventually earning her Bachelor degree in Music Education.

She married Darrell Grant Davis in 1963 and taught at OSU for one year. Before graduating, she was in a tragic accident, which caused her to spend more than a year in rehabilitation, recovering from third degree burns.

In January of 1969, her only child, Angie Davis was born. In 1971, Pam began teaching music at Northern Oklahoma College where she taught voice, piano, and a variety of other music courses. She also arranged music for and accompanied N.O.C.’s music group, the Roustabouts. She taught for 13 years there and was an artist in residence.

Pam met her husband Joseph McNeal at Northern Oklahoma College and married in 1977. Pam continued to teach at NOC until 1984, but then was led to begin a music ministry using her talents in singing, directing, and accompanying church music in various churches in Ponca City. The couple moved to Tulsa in 1988 where she continued her music ministry at Rose Hill United Methodist Church until 1998. She then served at Our Savior Lutheran Church and then Sheridan Christian Center, in Tulsa.

Pam was able to bless so many people with her music and faith. She loved the Lord and simply wanted to help others know Him. She prayed with them, she listened, she counseled, she hugged, she made people laugh, and she shared the love of Jesus.

Pam was truly the example of the following quote by Maya Angelou;

"I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."

Pam’s beautifully worn Bible had the following quote on the inside front cover by S.D. Gordon:

"Keep a clear eye on God’s goal for your life; it is not money, or success, or position. The terminus is likeness to Jesus and winning others to Him."

Pam is survived by her husband, Joe, of the home; her daughter Angela Almeyda and husband Xavier, of Venice, Florida; three grandchildren, Chelcie, Emile and Xavier; mother-in-law Betty McNeal; brother-in-law Jack McNeal ; sister-in-law Gwen McMahill; other extended family and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; one brother, Ronald Young Haines.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, December 18, 2015 at Grace Memorial Chapel, Ponca City, with Rev. Laura Wolfe Dubie and Minister Robert McGuire presiding. Interment will follow in the Ponca City I.O.O.F. Cemetery.

Casket bearers are Jack McNeal, Robert McGuire, Stan Anderson, Charles Moon, Gary Smith and Xavier Almeyda.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions in Pam’s name may be made to the Northern Oklahoma College Foundation in memory of her. The funds will go toward a scholarship opportunity for young musicians. Checks should be made to the NOC Foundation, 1220 East Grand, Tonkawa, Oklahoma 74653.