Mrs. Gay Neal, age 81 and a resident of Forest for over 50 years, and owner of Neal Pest Control, passed away on Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018, at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson after a short illness.

Funeral services will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018, from the Ott & Lee Funeral Home Chapel with pastor Tim Lott officiating. Interment will follow in the Sims Hill Cemetery under the direction of Ott & Lee Funeral Home in Forest.

Visitation will be from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 2, 2018, at the funeral home.

Mrs. Neal will be remembered for her love for her family, and the relationship she had as “Mimi” to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her expertise in southern cooking skills were second to none, and the testimony of her family echoed those same sentiments. As one who enjoyed the outdoors, growing plants and working in her yard were favorite past times. She was a member of Forest Baptist Church and the Joyce Lassetter Sunday School Class.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth Ray Neal Sr.; two grandchildren, Angela Neal and Paige Neal; her parents, Elmo “Shorty” and Ada Bell Booth Blackwell; and one brother, John Thomas Blackwell.

Survivors include three sons, Kenny (Cindy) Neal of Monkey Island, Oklahoma, Truitt Neal of Eagle Lake and Ron (Audrey) Neal of Forest; four grandchildren, Morgan (Dustin) Campbell, Laken (Stephen) Zimmerman, Tyler (Courtney) Neal and Hayden Neal; four great-grandchildren, Keller and Harry Campbell, Elanor Zimmerman and Tyley Neal.

The family requests that memorial donations be made in her memory to Sims Hill Cemetery Fund, 4734 Blossom Hill Rd., Morton, MS 39117.