Burl L. Neal

FITCHBURG -- Burl L. Neal, of Fitchburg and a former Ashby resident who was an Army veteran, died Friday, Oct. 14, in Fitchburg, after an extended illness. He was 68.

He was born in Ada, Okla., July 14, 1937, son of the late Albert and Ola (Van Schuyver) Neal. He received his early education in the Wanette school system, and graduated from Wanette High School.

After high school, Mr. Neal enlisted in the Army on Dec. 28, 1956, and attained the rank of specialist 1st class before being honorably discharged on Dec. 10, 1959.

After his military service, Mr. Neal worked for the federal government as a supervisor/foreman in a machine shop for the U.S. Coast Guard in Boston.

He later went back to his home state of Oklahoma for some time. Mr. Neal then returned to Massachusetts, and was employed at the South Weymouth Naval Station, until his retirement on Oct. 31, 1997.

He loved saltwater fishing along the New England coast.

He is survived by two daughters and a son-in-law, Martha and Raymond Svedberg of Ashby, and Mary Ann Neal Hogan of Plum Island; two sons and a daughter-in-law, Marshal A. and Doris Neal of Mason, N.H., and Mark Neal of Plum Island; five grandchildren; Alex and Adam Svedberg, Katelynn Marie Hogan, Crystal Lee Hogan and Christine Neal; two great-grandchildren, Christopher Laponius and Rheya Denise Mae Pierce; three brothers, Leroy Neal, residing in Colorado, J. C. Neal and Raymond Neal, both residing in Texas; his former wife, Zaida (Farhina) Neal; and several nieces and nephews.