Netta Maria O'Neal

The instructions say to tell you that ninety-one-year-old Netta Maria O’Neal, née Reif, died on April 24, 2026, in her home in Copperas Cove, Texas. But that’s not the date that matters. These are the dates that matter:

Netta was born April 11, 1935, in Prague, which positioned her perfectly for a child’s close-up view of Hitler’s occupation from age three to ten. This was followed by the Soviets, and a family escape rivaling the von Trapp family’s in The Sound of Music. As political refugees Netta, her parents Gustav and Ema Reif, and her brother Cyril fled to Australia, then migrated to America. Her father’s job carried them around the world. Along the way she worked in retail, for DARPA, attended graphic art school, and met people of all kinds and stations around the world. This shaped her deeply, making a woman who could find joy anywhere, and who was known for her kindness and generosity.

It was in Thailand that she met LtC Alvin Lee O’Neal, a Green Beret career Army officer, and began working as a military wife and mom, which she excelled at. They married in 1963. Netta’s joie de vivre and experience made her more than a good hostess; she became a mentor, leader, and earned a reputation among her peers as the person to turn to when you needed help. When the family landed at Fort Hood, Netta also became closely involved with the Holy Family Catholic Church in Copperas Cove, cleaning and helping and making beautiful decorations for holidays. It was wonderful, until Alvin died of Agent Orange-related cancer in 1981. They are survived by two daughters, Alexandra O’Neal and Netta Lasch.

From childhood at King Alfred’s School until she passed, Netta had a strong sense of support for Native Americans, and donated to many different charities. She also supported animal and environmental causes, St. Jude’s, and cancer research. In lieu of flowers, donations to any of these causes at the charity of your choice would be appropriate.

A Funeral Mass will be held at Holy Family Catholic Church, 1001 Georgetown Rd, Copperas Cove, TX 76522, US, on May 8, 2026, from 11:00 am to 11:45 am.