Neal Wayne Oates

Wednesday, January 9, 2019

Neal Wayne Oates, 81, of Manila, passed from this life at St. Bernards Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro and went to be with his Lord and Savior on Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019. Born in the Black Water community near Manila, he was the son of the late Richard and Dovie Foresythe Oates and had been a lifelong Manila area resident. A 1956 graduate of Manila High School, he was a retired carpenter and general contractor and was the owner/operator of Oates Construction for over 50 years. A longtime member of the First Baptist Church in Manila, Neal enjoyed gardening, spending time with his family, and attending Total Life.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by two sisters, Bobbie Darr Brucks and Ima Joan Jones; two brothers-in-law, a niece and a nephew.

Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Mary Leggett Oates of the home; one son, Alan Oates (Dee) of Manila; one daughter, Janet Jones (Greg) of Manila; one sister, Natalene Scott of Madison, Miss. He also leaves five grandchildren, Kacie, Marc, Matt, Savanah and Dalton, all of Manila.

The family expresses a special thank you to Ethel Hetler for her care and friendship.

Funeral service will be 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 11, at the Howard Funeral Service Chapel in Manila with Paul Wayne Hicks officiating. Burial will follow in the Manila Cemetery.

Active pallbearers will be Matt Oates, Marc Oates, Dalton Jones, James Copeland, Bernice Medlock and Scotty Woods. Honorary pallbearers will include Bobby Tucker, Jerry Hitchcock, Danny Robbins, Benny Minton, Leroy Douglas and DeWayne Jackson.

The family will receive visitors Friday from 12:30 p.m. until service time at the funeral home.

Guest register: www.howardfuneralservice.com