Smith Neal was born on September 1, 1936, to Archie Alvic and Essie Mae (Oler) Neal in a small farm house in Rains County, Texas. He died on June 6, 2026 in Sonora.
Mr. Neal was the eighth of eleven children born to Archie and Essie (4 boys and 7 girls). He was raised on that cotton farm where he learned to work (he planted a field of cotton by himself at age 12). When he was in about eighth grade he wrote a letter to one of his older sisters, Christine Parks, and asked if he could move to Dallas with her and her family so he could continue Jr. High and High School. Smith started working sacking groceries at A&P Grocery and working at the local Maple Theater while he attended Jr. High and Crozier Technical High School. After high school, he enrolled at North Texas State College.
While working at the theater, Smith met Don Sosebee. Don was an instrumental figure in Smith’s life. This friendship brought Smith to North Dallas Baptist Church where he met his Lord Jesus Christ and his future wife, Jo Ellen Ballew. Smith and Jo Ellen were married September 6, 1957, and supported each other through thick and thin, for 45 years until her passing in 2002.
In 1960, after graduation, Smith took a job in Sonora teaching English and Speech. This job was supposed to be a 1 or 2 year experience so he could move back to the Dallas area. He’s been known to say he’s still trying to get the one year’s experience! He never left Sonora.
This is where he also took on a new name, Mr. Neal. Mr. Neal and Jo Ellen raised three children in Sonora. Mr. Neal became the Jr. High Principal and later the Assistant Superintendent. Through his years in education, he taught 100’s of students, some who would later come back and teach for his schools. He was also a member of First Baptist Church of Sonora, where he served as a Sunday school teacher, a deacon and the unofficial “handyman” for many years. Mr. Neal was also a member of Dee Ora Masonic Lodge #715 for 60 years, served on many boards, organizations, and was elected and served as a city councilman and mayor. Mr. Neal could be seen around Sonora painting houses, giving rides, helping move items, refinishing furniture, mowing yards or picking up pecans for many, all of the years of his life.
His greatest accomplishment in life was becoming a Christian. He always showed God’s love through his own servanthood. His steadfast faith served him through many hard times in his life and guided his decisions through all his years. He was very proud that all his children and grandchildren had also found the love of Jesus and were baptized into their respective churches. Smith was known by several names: Dad, Grandad, Brother, Friend, Mr. Neal and had many titles during his life. His proudest was Good and Faithful Servant.
Smith was preceded in death by his wife, Jo Ellen; daughter, Denise (Neal) Augustine; his father and mother; three brothers, Troy, Joe and A. Don; and five sisters, Martha Grace, Christine, Leta, Rita and Forice.
He is survived by two sisters, Patsy Greene and Genita Dalby; sons, Eric Neal and wife Lisa, and Christopher Neal and wife Jennifer; son-in-law, Kenneth and Sharon Augustine; grandchildren, Melissa (Augustine) and Brian Aday, Tori (Neal) and Brent Goertz, Tanner and Katy Neal, Garrett Neal and Archie Neal; great-grandchildren, Jeremy and Jace Aday, Smith and Carter Goertz, and Joe and Lucy Neal; and many nieces, nephews, students and friends.
Smith gave donations to many organizations throughout his life. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to a charity or organization of your choice. Suggestions would be Dee Ora Masonic Lodge scholarship fund, First Baptist Church Sonora or Eldorado, American Cancer Society.
A celebration of life will be held on July 11, 2026 at 11:30 a.m., at the Sutton County Civic Center in Sonora, Texas.