Dorothy Lee Neil, 94, died May 8, 2004, at Fairhaven Adult Family Home, Oak Harbor, her home for the past three years. She was born Sept. 30, 1909, in Mesa, Arizona to Harry Lee and Bertha (Harris) Burrier.
Dorothy moved to Mount Vernon with her parents in 1910. She attended Mount Vernon High School and was one of the 100 students graduating with the Class of 1927.
Dorothy was married to Melvin B. Neil. Dorothy had a lifelong love of writing and in 1940, began work for Glenn and Phyllis Smith at the Whidbey News-Times. She continued through the ownership of Wallie Funk and John Webber and on to the current ownership of Sound Publishing.
Dorothy also developed her own writing, creating the Spindrift and Spindrift II, the Town Crier as well as her regular column, Top O’ The Morn in the Whidbey News Times. She also wrote nearly a dozen books on the history of the Oak Harbor area. She loved to write about the early days on North Whidbey.
Dorothy was also a community activist. She served on the Oak Harbor City Council, the County and City Park Boards and was instrumental in developing the City Beach park area, was Vice President of the Neil Tower Restoration Association and a member of the Holland Happening Committee. She also designed the Dutch tiles for each Holland Happening.
Dorothy was a member of Whidbey Presbyterian Church, the PBY Memorial Association, a former member of Tula Chapter, Order of Eastern Star. For many years, she was active with the Greater Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce, the Oak Harbor Garden Club and had a lifelong affection for the Oak Harbor Fire Department.
Dorothy was most proud of the Irish ancestry. She was an active participant in the annual St. Patrick’s celebration in Oak Harbor for many years.
Dorothy is survived by two sons, James “Jim” Neil of Oak Harbor and Douglas “Doug” Neil and his wife Kathleen of Christchurch, New Zealand. Six grandchildren, Lisa and Cindy Tatum of Bellingham, Thomas Liberty of Christchurch, Andrew Neil of California and Laurie Eackon of Ventura, Calif., and Jennifer Nelson of Seattle also survive. Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband Melvin B. Neil, one daughter Mary Lee Tatum and by two sisters, Margaret and Patricia and one brother Tom Burrier.
Memorial services for Dorothy Neil will be held Thursday, May 13, at 2 p.m. at First Reformed Church of Oak Harbor with Rev. David Templin of Whidbey Presbyterian Church officiating. Private family graveside services will be held at Maple Leaf Cemetery, Oak Harbor.
Memorials may be made to the Oak Harbor Christian School Foundation, city of Oak Harbor Park Board or Oak Harbor Fire Department. Arrangements are under the direction of Burley Funeral Chapel.
