Jan. 27, 1908-July 30, 2003

ENTERPRISE – Emma Emily Neil, 95, of Enterprise, died Wednesday, July 30, 2003, at the Wallowa County Nursing Home in Enterprise.

Disposition was by cremation with a private family service to be held later.

Mrs. Neil was born Jan. 27, 1908, at Joseph, to Albin and Louise Rudger. She attended school at the old Liberty school and at Joseph.

She lived in Wallowa County all her life except for a short time when she attended Business College at Baker. After completing business college, she returned to Joseph where she married Dawson Neil on April 3, 1934. The couple farmed and ranched in the Three Lake area of Wallowa County, then bought their own ranch on Lower Prairie Creek.

In 1962, after her husband’s death, Mrs. Neil moved into Joseph where she managed the Indian Lodge Motel for Walter Brennan for a number of years. When the motel was sold, she retired to her home in Joseph where she enjoyed doing yard work and volunteering as a ballot counter during elections.

In 1994, she sold her home in Joseph and moved to Pleasant View Retirement Home in Enterprise where she enjoyed visiting, reading, doing word puzzles and helping with the laundry as long as her health permitted. She had moved into the Wallowa County Nursing facility only five days before her death.

Survivors include sons, Dawson Neil of Enterprise, Malcolm Neil of Milton-Freewater, and Norman Neil of Hermiston; six grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren and a number of nieces, nephews and friends. Besides her husband, Dawson, she was preceded in death by her parents, by three sisters and a brother.

Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of choice.

Bollman Funeral Home of Enterprise is in charge of arrangements.