Cynthia L. “Cindy” Neal, age 69, of Gas City was greeted at the Gates of Heaven at 5:40 p.m. on Thursday, January 25, 2024, in her home surrounded by her loving family. Cindy was a true and faithful servant to the Lord up until her very last breath during her short but hard-fought battle with pancreatic cancer.
Cindy was born on December 27, 1954, in Hartford City, Indiana, the daughter of the late Homer E. Hensley and Nellie Francis (Morris) Hensley Sheward. Cindy attended Pennville High School from 1968 to 1970, and then graduated from Martin County High School in Stuart, Florida in 1973. She also attended Indiana University of Ft. Wayne for real estate in 1989. She married Shelby Neal on January 13, 1976, and together had recently celebrated 48 years of marriage.
Cindy worked many jobs over the years including at the Port Orange Family Chiropractic Office, the Appraisers Office for the City of Alice Texas, Bill Reddit Ford in Stuart, Floridia, Mr. Dunderbak’s in Daytona, Florida, Smith Brothers Furniture in Berne, Indiana and the Bentonville Arkansas Emergency Room.
Cindy made friends everywhere she went, and she enjoyed sitting on the beach, dancing, bowling, getting together for dinner with friends and family, playing cards, watching little league baseball games and high school basketball games. She loved driving fast on the open road, fishing, going to concerts and county fairs and back in the day going to drive-in movies. Through her faith, Cindy most enjoyed doing kind things for others for those who didn’t expect it but appreciated it, and never asked for anything in return. She especially loved sending out birthday cards to family and friends and cards of encouragement to anyone she thought might need it. Cindy was always thinking about others before herself.
After moving to Gas City to be near family, Cindy joined the Gas City Moose Lodge #1778, where she made lots of new friends and was able to enjoy many fun times opening pull tab tickets and playing shuffleboard and bowling with family and friends. She was also a dedicated member of New Hope Baptist Church in Gas City and gained many special friends through her membership there. Cindy was loved by so many and will be deeply missed by her family.
Cindy is survived by her husband, Shelby Neal of Anderson; two daughters, Darby Neal of S. Daytona, Florida, and Arlana “Brooke” Haines of Ft. Wayne, Indiana; three brothers, Greg (Brenda) Hensley of Gas City, Gerry Hensley of N. Carolina and Roger Sheward of Alabama; a sister, Monica Justice of Geneva, Indiana; 3 grandchildren, Audreahna Haines, Camille Haines, and Noah Haines; special aunts Shirley Cox and Margaret (Bob) Lewis; several cousins, nieces, nephews; sisters-in-law, Shirley (the late Coy) Ellis and Betty (Tom) Swovelandand; her special friends, Crystal McGuinn, Debbie Robidoux and Debbie Fugate-Clawson; and many other friends too numerous to mention.
In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by a sister, Teresa Teeple in 2022; and brother-in-law, AR (Carol) Neal.
The family would sincerely like to extend a special thank you to IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital, Muncie, Indiana, and Heart to Heart Hospice for their compassionate care shown to Cindy and to our family during Cindy’s illness. We are all humbled and so appreciative for all the calls, text messages, and posts on Facebook keeping Cindy and our family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
Arrangements are entrusted to Raven Choate Robinson Funeral Home, 1202 W. Kem Road, Marion, Indiana. Cindy’s wishes were to be cremated with no funeral services.
A Celebration of Life and Funeral Dinner will be held from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 24, 2024, at the Gas City Moose Lodge, 817 E. Main Street, Gas City, Indiana to celebrate Cindy’s life and reminisce with friends and family.
Memorial contributions can be made to Cancer Services of Grant County, 305 S. Norton Street, Marion, Indiana 46952.
Online condolences and memories for the family can be shared at www.ravenchoate.com
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