Lorilee Marie Neel

Lorilee had two sisters, Linda and Anita. She was the first grandchild on her father’s side of the family. Her grandfather owned and operated the Daisy Candy Company. Lorilee Chocolates were named in her honor. She was part of Northwest Classen High School’s Class of 1958. On September 9, 1958, she married Mitchell Spencer, an Airman First Class stationed at Tinker Air Force Base. Their daughter, Terry Lynn, was born in 1959. Timothy Patrick, joined them in 1965. Their youngest daughter, Jennifer Louise, completed the family in 1969.

As an Air Force spouse, Lorilee lived in France and the Philippines, as well as stateside bases in Washington State and Arkansas. She loved to travel. The family was part of the National Campers and Hikers Association for awhile, traveling to campgrounds where family fun filled their days. In later years, she looked forward to annual trips to Washington State to visit her daughter Terry and her grandchildren. She enjoyed the many adventures she had with the family as they explored the Pacific Northwest.

Lorilee, known by friends as Lori, had a great love for arts and crafts. She used her incredible talents in a variety of sewing, crafts, and art mediums. She particularly enjoyed tole painting. She worked in the needlework department at the very first Hobby Lobby to open in Muskogee, OK. She became an expert in her area, leading to travels to different cities to “relay” needlecraft departments for stores undergoing renovation. She retired after more than twenty years with the company.

After Lorilee’s marriage to Mitchell ended, she rekindled her relationship with her high school sweetheart, Philip Neel. They married in 1991. She and Philip shared the home he grew up in, which was right around the corner from her childhood home. They traveled throughout the south, participating in competitive shooting. They had great adventures before Lorilee’s Parkinson’s Disease slowed their lives down. They spent their last years together at home with their beloved dogs.

Lorilee was spunky and sweet, funny and loving. She smiled with her entire face and her eyes sparkled with joy. She was a woman of deep faith. Her faith journey began with her Catholic upbringing. Later, she made a personal commitment to Jesus and found a home and dear church family in an Assemblies of God church in Muskogee. Although she didn’t attend church later in life, she found solace in the Bible and in prayer. She continued to walk with the Lord, and we are certain that He escorted her into His presence when she left this life.

She is mourned deeply by those who survive her: Husband Philip Neel of Oklahoma City; sisters Linda Haynes of Arizona, Oklahoma and Nita (Carl) Smith of Las Vegas, Nevada and Oklahoma; daughters Terry (Terry) Arnold of Federal Way, Washington, Jennifer Spencer of Muskogee, Oklahoma; and stepdaughter Philomena Neel. She leaves behind nine grandchildren Sarah (Charles) Nelson, Rachel (Andrew) Hannah, Joshua (Tashia) Arnold, Matthew (Rachel) Arnold, Emily Arnold, Naomi Arnold, Deena Spencer (Ben Workings), David (Mary) Arnold, and James Spencer, as well as nephews and nieces Alan Fowler, Edward Fowler, Olivia Whittington, Ashley Clark, and Lauren Clark; 18 great grandchildren, and many great nieces and nephews. She loved them all.

She is reunited in death with her parents, her son Tim, grandson Timothy James Spencer, and nieces, Sharla Fowler and Vanessa Wells.

We are better for loving her and having been loved by her.

Visitation will be 12pm-2pm on Thursday, June 5, 2025 with service at 2pm at Bill Merritt Funeral Service. Interment will follow at Resthaven Memory Gardens.

Services can be streamed live at https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/c25061525921886