Maurine Evelyn (Hawkins) McNeal, 92 of Plainville, formerly of Natoma, died March 1, 2010 at the Rooks County Medical Center in Plainville, Kansas.

Maurine was born June 5, 1917 in Graham County near Palco, Kansas, the daughter of Lee and Louise (Haefner) Hawkins.  Maurine’s parents were deaf mutes.  She learned to talk with her hands from her parents and spoken language from her grandparents.  She attended country schools in the Palco area through the sixth grade.  Her family then moved to Luray where she graduated from Luray High School in 1936.

Maurine was united in marriage to Dennis E. McNeal on September 20, 1936 in rural Paradise.  They lived in Covert, Kansas, a farm south of Covert and then to the Will Winder homestead in Victor Township, Osborne County.  This union was blessed with nine children; Denzil, Janice, Albert, Charles, Deanna, Beverly, Nina, Myrle, and Leisha.  Maurine moved to Natoma in 1978 and lived there until moving to Red Bud Village Nursing Home in Plainville, in July 2006.

Maurine was a homemaker, later serving as a cook in the cafeteria at Paradise Schools for 11 years.  She was a member of the Enterprise United Methodist Church, the Natoma United Methodist Church, and attended services at the Plainville Nazarene Church during her years at the nursing home.  She was an active member of United Methodist Women.  She cared for her elderly neighbors taking ladies to church, UMW and out to lunch.  She babysat with a number of different children and especially enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She loved quilting, gardening and cooking, and is famous for her cinnamon rolls.

Maurine is survived by nine children; Denzil McNeal and wife Angela of Stockton, Kansas, Janice (McNeal) Strecker of Lawrence, Kansas, Albert McNeal and wife Carrie of Dundee, Oregon, Charles McNeal and wife Connie of Paradise, Kansas, Deanna Hoeme and husband Dutch of West Branch, Iowa, Beverly McNeal of Alexandra, Virginia, Nina McNeal of Hays, Kansas, Myrle McNeal and wife Julie of Boulder, Colorado; and Leisha Jones and husband Rick of Colorado Springs, Colorado; brother, Olin Hawkins of Sand Springs, Oklahoma; Twenty-two grandchildren; thirty-five great grandchildren and six great-great grandchildren; numerous relatives and a host of friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Leroy Hawkins and a sister Eleanor (Hawkins) Johnson and son-in-law, Al Strecker.

Celebration of Maurine’s Life will be held at 10:30 AM Saturday, March 6, 2010 at the Natoma United Methodist Church in Natoma.  Interment will follow at the Natoma City Cemetery.  The family will greet friends following the committal at the Natoma Community Center.  Viewing will be from 9 AM to service time Saturday morning at the church.  Memorials have been established with the Natoma United Methodist Church or the Red Bud Village Nursing Home.  Contributions and condolences may be sent in care of Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary.  Condolences may also be sent via email at www.pvpmortuary.com.