Lillian Jean Neal

Lillian Jean (Young) Earle Stokes Gross Neal, age 87, died at her home in Little Rock, Arkansas, April 27, 2015,, after a long battle with cancer. She was born at home in the Geyer Springs area of Little Rock on April 3, 1928, daughter of dairy farmers Fleet James Young and Annie Lou (Wittenburg) Young, and attended Mabelvale schools before graduating from Little Rock High School (now Central High School). She attended one semester at Little Rock University (now UALR).

In June of 1947, at her parents’ home on Baseline Road, she married Robert Shelton Earle, the only son of Haywood Shelton Earle and Marion Idelle (Thomas) Earle. Shortly after their marriage, Robert joined the USAF, and during his nomadic career, they had two children, and lived in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, California, Bermuda, North Dakota, and Maine, while Robert also had tours in Korea and Greenland. Jean had a career in civil service, eventually retiring from long time service in the Social Security Administration. In retirement, she loved to travel, visiting places like India, Spain, Greece, and Austria.

She always loved to garden, taking much delight in her yard and flowers, and later in life became an avid bridge player at The Bridge House in Little Rock.

Jean is predeceased by her parents; by her siblings Henry Lee Young and Wanda Lafay (Young) Wright; by her first husband Robert S. Earle; by her second husband Gerald Neal; and by her fourth husband, William “Bill” Gross.

She is survived by her children Carolyn Earle Billingsley (husband James L. Billingsley) of Saline County, Arkansas, and Robert James Earle (wife Olga) of Snohomish, Washington. She is also survived by her loving companion, bridge partner, and neighbor, William “Bill” Cardin, and well as her former husband Kenneth Stokes of Little Rock.

She is survived by eight grandchildren: Jimmy D. Billingsley (Carmen), Amy Elizabeth (Billingsley) Buquoi (Michael), Robert Earle Billingsley (Andrea), Sarah Christine (Billingsley) Bentley Wood—all of Saline County, Arkansas; David Christopher Earle of Vashon Island, Washington, Maia Christine Earle of Belleview, Washington, James Wilson of San Francisco, California, and Daniel James Earle of Snohomish, Washington.

She is survived by eight great-grandchildren: Jeffrey Aaron Billingsley, Carrie Elizabeth Bentley, Amber Michelle Billingsley, Lillian “Lilly” Kaia Wood, Trulie Ashcom Billingsley, Jase Carter Billingsley, James Nathan Atchley Billingsley, and Caledonia Isabella Wood.

Jean was a member of St. James United Methodist Church.

Funeral service will be held at 2:00 Thursday, April 30 at Griffin Leggett–Forest Hills, 10200 Highway 5 N, Alexander. The interment of ashes will be at a later time, beside her husband Gerald Neal, in Forest Hills Cemetery, Saline County, Arkansas.

Arrangements under the direction of Forest Hills Funeral Home, ALEXANDER, AR.