Obituary

Retha Crabtree Neale
(June 17, 1926 - January 13, 2015)

RETHA CRABTREE NEALE went to be with the Lord on January 13, 2015. She was born on June 17, 1926, in Huntington, West Virginia. Retha gained fame as a country western singer on The Saturday Night Jamboree and Hayloft Time with her brother Odey Crabtree, prior to serving for over 30 years as the Director of Occupational Therapy at the Huntington State Hospital. She was a member of Lewis Memorial Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her father George B. Crabtree and mother Rosa Sansom Crabtree, as well as her brother Odey Crabtree and sister Theldia Blankenship. Retha is survived by her loving family, her husband of 71 years Jay M. Neale; sons Roger (Donna) Neale of Harrisburg, N.C., and Danny (Susanne) Neale of Huntington; grandchildren Laura Ann Neale, David Bryan Neale, Danny Jay Neale II, Chad Alan Neale and Natalie Marie Pait; great-grandchildren Stephanie, Lindsey, Jessica, Jacob, Bella, Nathan, Madeline, and Elaina; and sister Esta Spears, as well as nieces, nephews and extended family. Funeral services will be conducted 6 p.m. Saturday, January 17, 2015, at Chapman's Mortuary, Huntington, with Dr. David B. Lemming officiating. Graveside service will be conducted 2 p.m. Sunday in Ridgelawn Memorial Park, Abbey of Devotion. Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday at Chapman's Mortuary. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Emogene Dolin Jones Hospice House.