Mary Frances Neal Gilmore

Polkton – Mrs. Mary Frances Neal Gilmore, age 84, passed away peacefully at the Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center in Bolivia, NC, after a brief illness, on Wednesday, November 18, 2020. A memorial service to celebrate her life will be held at 2:00PM Saturday, November 21st, at Cedar Grove Baptist Church with Rev. Mark Swaringen officiating. Interment will be private. The family will greet friends in the church immediately following the service. Born in Anson County on April 24, 1936, Mary Frances was a daughter of the late John Clyde and Monte Thelma Liles Neal. She was a retired beautician but enjoyed several different jobs over her career including the selling of real estate. She also served as chairwoman of Union County’s Red Cross and taught a multitude of CPR and other first-aid courses. Married to a car enthusiast and part-time racecar driver, Mary Frances became quite adept at tearing down and putting cars back together when it really wasn’t cool for women to do that. She loved to go bowling and never met a craft she didn’t like including sewing, ceramics, needlepoint, and knitting. Mary Frances was a longtime member of Cedar Grove Baptist Church, remaining active until her health began to fail. She absolutely adored her husband, Jimmy (who passed away just this past September) and the two of them were rarely ever seen apart from one another. Survivors include her children, Mary Neal Hall (Jimmy) of Matthews, Anna Marie Farr (David) of Little River, SC, Melanie Scercy of Holden Beach, Sabrina Watts of Holden Beach, Monte Griffin of Marshville and Jim Gilmore (Amy) of Unionville; 13 grandchildren; and 6 great-grandchildren. In addition to her parents and husband, Mary Frances was preceded in death by a son-in-law, Phillip Scercy; one grandchild; and two brothers, John Neal of Lilesville and Doug Neal of Morganton. The family suggest memorials be made to Cedar Grove Baptist Church, c/o Alice Cox, 12509 Hwy 742 N., Polkton, NC 28135.