Tulsa native Jack Roland Neal, died peacefully at home with family on June 23, 2022 having achieved 90 years of age. He is survived by Mary Jo (Jarvis) Neal, his wife of 61 years. They were introduced on a blind date arranged by a family friend. After two years of long distance letter writing, the pair married on December 26, 1960 in Ft. Worth, TX. Helen Neal, daughter (Justin Dick), Evergreen CO, grandsons Orion Dick-Neal, Haven Dick-Neal; Joseph (Joe) W. Neal, son (Sarah Olson Neal), Birmingham MI, granddaughter Mary Neal, grandson Henry (Hank) Neal; Thomas (Tom) M. Neal, son, Ft. Collins CO; John (Jack) E. Neal, son (Elise Neal), Houston TX, granddaughter Samantha Neal, grandson Matthew Neal; brothers Michael (Mike) J. Neal (Cathy Neal), Tulsa; James (Jim) B. Neal (Jean Neal), and sister Peggy Lou Neal, North Little Rock AR; nieces and nephews Peggy (Neal) Craig, Joan (Neal) Straessle, Sarah (Neal) Gilpin, Kathy Mackie, Steve Neal, Jim Neal, Robert Mackie, Kevin Mackie; preceded in death by his parents, brother Roy and sister-in-law Ann (Jarvis) Mackie.
Jack began his lifelong Catholic faith at home under the influence of his mother, Helen, who left a powerful impression on him by the time she died when Jack was 10 and his father, Roland, continued to honor that faith through Jack's enrollment at Immaculate Conception grade school, graduation from Holy Family High School and attendance at St. Benedict College (KS) for a year. He left college for two years of jobs in the oil business at Creekmore Drilling, Carter Oil, Bethlehem Steel before being drafted for service in the United States Army in 1952. Thanks to the G.I. bill, post-Korean War, Jack graduated with a bachelor's degree in Geology from the University of Tulsa and a lifelong enthusiasm for TU sports (especially men's baseball, football and basketball).
Jack worked for Aero Chart & Info/St. Louis, and S.A. Halpine (Halmore)/Tulsa before, in 1966, co-founding Metric, Inc., an oil and gas measurement specialist manufacturing firm, in Tulsa. With the sale of the company in 1981 to Bopp & Reuther/Germany, Jack stayed as president of the company for another five years and retired to enjoy travel with Mary Jo and devote time to his golf game, being very proud of his 'hole in one.' Other hobbies he enjoyed were keeping track of the St. Louis Cardinals, beekeeping, and vegetable gardening. He was also an avid reader and traveled all over the world - some for business purposes and later for pleasure on cruises with his wife. His civic sense led him to volunteer as a docent at Tulsa's Sherman Williams Museum, at The Manger in Claremore, delivering Meals on Wheels in Tulsa, and donations to the Tulsa Homeless Shelter with his brother, Mike. He served as a eucharistic minister at St. Cecelia's and Resurrection Catholic Churches.
The Rosary for Jack will be held at Moore Funeral Home, 7:30 pm, Thursday, July 21, 2022. His memorial Mass will be at the Church of the Resurrection, 10:30 am, Friday, July 22, 2022 followed by interment with the family at Ft. Gibson National Cemetery, 2:30 pm that day.
In lieu of flowers please make donations in Jack's name to Parkinson's Research Foundation 5969 Cattleridge Blvd. Suite 100 Sarasota, FL 34232 or to a charity of your choice.
The family wishes to express special thanks to caregivers Rebecca, Tracy, Martha, Val and Nicole who lovingly helped Jack through his final days.
For additional information: Moore's Southlawn 918-663-2233