Lois Virginia Neal

Rev. Dr. Lois Virginia Glory Neal 94 passed away peacefully on November 29, 2025 in Blanchard Oklahoma. She was born on July 23, 1931 in Tahlequah Oklahoma to Elizabeth Kingfisher Glory and Nolan B. Glory and was a proud full blood Cherokee woman enrolled with the Cherokee Nation.

Lois grew up in Tahlequah with her sisters Wanda and Anna Faye. She began her early education at Sequoyah Elementary School, attended Eufaula Indian Boarding School for her 7th and 8th grades, and completed high school at Chilocco Indian Vocational School in Newkirk graduating in 1949.

In December 1952, she married Rev. Oliver B. Neal in Van Buren, Arkansas. Together they raised seven children Dean, Oliver III, Deborah, Alma, Janie, Mary, and Linda, and devoted 30 years to ministry within the Indian Missionary Conference now known as the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference OIMC. Their pastoral appointments took them throughout Oklahoma, Texas, Arizona, and California, where Lois also served in various leadership roles within the conference.

After Oliver’s passing in 1979 Lois continued her commitment to education and service. While working as a full time secretary at the Indian Clinic in Huntington Park, California, she attended Los Angeles Community College. She later pursued theological studies earning her Bachelor of Arts in Religion in 1984 and receiving her pastors license the same year in Antler, Oklahoma. She continued her education at St. Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, Missouri, serving her first pastoral appointment at Kahbeah Chapel in Horton, Kansas. She completed her Master of Theology in 1988 and later served at Angie Smith United Methodist Church.

In June 1992 Lois made history as the first Native American female District Superintendent for the Southwest and later the Southeast Regions of the United Methodist Church in Oklahoma. She represented the OIMC through leadership roles on the General Board of Global Ministries the Board of Discipleship and as Chair of the Section of Education and the committee contributing to the New Book of Worship. Her many honors included Distinguished Alumni recognition from Oklahoma City University in 1992, an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity from OCU in 1994, and the Distinguished Graduate Award from St. Paul School of Theology in 2020.

Lois officially retired from the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference in June 2000, but continued to serve as an ambassador across the United States sharing her faith wisdom and dedication to Native ministry.

She is survived by her beloved family: son, Oliver B. Neal III, and wife, Sylvia, of Modesto, California; daughters E. Alma Johnson, of Shawnee, Oklahoma, J. Janie Dixon, of Norwalk, California, Mary E. Holstein and Madera Holstein, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Linda K. Johnson, of Blanchard, Oklahoma; and daughter in law, Irene Neal, of Dulce, New Mexico. Her grandchildren, Damon Neal, Richard Neal, Sarah Neal, Daniel Rodriguez, Donovan Rodriguez, Robert Rodriguez, Danny Dixon and wife, Tabitha, Jackie Lynn Holstein, Madera Jr. Holstein, Christina Adkins and husband, Andrew, and Laura Neal and companion, Chelsey. Her great grandchildren, Jordan Rodriguez, Mahaya Rodriguez, Reyna Cardoza, Joe Cardoza, Domonique Tah, Elias Adkins, Captain Jonathan Dixon and wife, Captain Ariane Dixon, and Jaycee Dixon.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Rev. Oliver B. Neal Jr.; her son, Dean Neal; her daughter, Deborah D. Neal; and her grandsons, David Neal, Oliver B. Neal IV, and Justin Dixon; her parents, Elizabeth Kingfisher Glory and Nolan B. Glory; her sisters, Wanda Boyd and Anna Faye Glory.

A wake service will be held at Primrose Funeral Service, located at 1109 N Porter Ave, Norman, OK 73071, on Friday, December 5, 2025, from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. The funeral service will take place at McFarlin Memorial United Methodist Church, located at 419 S University Blvd, Norman, OK 73069, on Saturday, December 6, 2025, starting at 1:00 pm. A reception will follow the service.

Rev. Dr. Lois Virginia Glory Neal will be remembered for her pioneering leadership deep faith and lifelong commitment to serving Native communities. Her legacy of love, service, and spiritual strength will continue to inspire all who were blessed to know her.