March 27, 1947 - February 18, 2024

Mary Elizabeth Neil passed away from natural causes in Kansas City, Missouri on February 18, 2024. Mary was born in Kansas City, Missouri to Randolph Steele Neil and Elizabeth Floyd Laning Neil on March 27, 1947. She grew up in Westwood, Kansas (in a restored 1800s farmhouse), and Prairie Village, Kansas. Her forbears include Charles Floyd, who was a member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition in 1803-1806.

Her great-great grandfather, Thomas Langrell Harris, was a member of the US Congress from Illinois in the 1850s, serving three terms. Mary was eligible for membership in the Colonial Dames. Her ancestors first arrived in America from England, Wales and Scotland in the early 1600s.

Mary’s grandfather, L.D. Laning, Princeton University, 1898, opened the Dime Store in Brookside, Kansas City, Missouri in 1939. He, and his estate, owned and operated the store until 1964, when it was sold to another family.

She attended Kansas State University in 1965 where she joined Kappa Alpha Theta, and was on the Dean’s List all semesters. In her freshman year, she was selected as Spring Fling Queen for the university. She completed her studies at the University of Missouri, Kansas City with a B.A. in history in 1971. She was on the Dean’s List during her studies. Mary moved to Washington, D.C. in 1971, where her son, Jesse Neil Goldman, was born. Later, she, her former husband, Ivan Goldman, a reporter for The Washington Post, and son lived in Alexandria, Virginia.

Mary returned to Kansas and received a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Missouri- Kansas City in 1983. She was a founding member of the Senior Arts Council. Committed to social service, Mary spent most of her career as an administrator for various not-for-profit organizations. After retirement, Mary owned and operated a vintage goods and arts shop on Etsy.com.

She made her home in Prairie Village, Kansas for 39 years. Mary’s enthusiasms included family, nature, wildlife, history, writing, reading, tending her house, and social justice. She is survived by her beloved son, Jesse Neil Goldman and daughter-in-law, Brianna Lee Goldman. She is also survived by her niece, Merritt Neil, great nephew, Jackson Engel and great niece, Angela Engel. Her brother, Randolph Laning Neil, passed away on March 6, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. Services are private. She is interred at Mount Washington Cemetery in Kansas City, Missouri. She would ask that donations be made to an animal sanctuary or shelter of choice. “Love Never Ends.” (1 Corinthians).