Evelyn Marie Bell Neal Sharit

1932 - 2021

Evelyn Marie Bell Neal Sharit, 88, of Pensacola, FL., passed away on Thursday, January 21, 2021.

Evelyn Marie Bell was born into a large family on December 4, 1932 at home on Bell Lane (named for her father Lafayette Barclay Bell) in Pea Ridge, FL. She graduated “top 10” of her class at Milton High School. She went on to work at NAS where she met her first husband, Harold (Hal) Neal. They had three children, Robin, Nancy and Steve and were some of the first Gulf Breeze residents (“Breezers”). Evelyn studied art at PJC and became an accomplished, admired local artist winning many local and regional awards. She taught many students in her home the joy of painting. Her work portrayed scenes of Northwest Florida and South Alabama, but was most known for her dunes and seascapes. Twelve years after the death of her husband, Harold, she married Joe Sharit, Jr. They enjoyed many years of travel before his death in June 2020. Evelyn enjoyed gardening, traveling, boating, sailing, decorating, cooking, socializing (happy hour on her porch), but most especially spending time with her family.

She is preceded in death by her first husband, Harold Loyd Neal and her second husband, Josiah L. Sharit, Jr.

Survivors include her daughters, Robin Neal Sharit and Nancy Neal Wilcox (Richard); son Steven Harold Neal (Carol); grandchildren, Bud Harold Neal (Tara), Megan Wilcox Kodatt (Ben), Neal Gregory Wilcox (Molly), Richard Reed Wilcox (Lisa), Logan Walker Hill (Emily), step grandchildren, Lauren Ashley Causey and Logan Andrew Causey and thirteen great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to a children’s charity of choice.

Special thanks to the nurses and staff of the Residence Memory Care Facility and Covenant Hospice of West Florida Hospital, and friend/caretaker Shanique Wheeler (“Ms. Tay”).