Mrs. Eva Mae McNeely

Lovingly written by Eva Mae McNeely:
Eva McNeely, age 90, of Springfield, Missouri passed away on April 18, 2025. She was born March 29, 1935 in Springfield, Missouri to Frank and Lula Rothermel. She accepted Christ in 1944 at East Avenue Baptist Church in Springfield, Missouri.
Bruce and Eva were married at East Avenue Baptist Church on August 21, 1955. They had two children: Frank and Cheryl.
She is survived by her loving husband, Bruce; her children; her grandchildren: Lindsey McNeely, Frankie McNeely, Bridgette McNeely, and Fallyn Yancey; and a great-grandchild, Kaitlyn.
Bruce and Eva met at 18 years old.
East Avenue Baptist Church in Springfield hired Bruce to be their pastor of their Mission Church at Grandview. In the beginning, there was only a Sunday morning service. Bruce attended the Sunday night services at East Avenue where Eva attended regularly. The youth met early for church training. Their friendship grew on Sunday nights.
Bruce planned a Halloween party at the Mission and invited the East Avenue youth. A friend of hers asked him to get Eva's phone numbers. Bruce did that but kept the numbers for himself and called for a date. This continued for 2 years.
Bruce told Eva that he was going to college and would not get married for 5 years. He changed his mind and proposed two years later. He wanted Eva to go to college and get a degree plus learn to play the piano.
They were married at East Avenue Baptist church on August 21, 1955. Bruce was attending college and working nights. Eva was working in the IBM Department at Associated Grocers. They were living in the upstairs rooms at her parents' home to save money. They purchased a mobile home to live in at school. After a year, Bruce attended a Mission conference and felt that Eva should start college in case God called them to missions.
They moved to Shawnee, Oklahoma in 1957, where they both enrolled in college. Bruce received his college degree from Oklahoma Baptist University and Eva completed 2 years. During this time, Bruce preached in Oklahoma all he could and worked at the local airport.
They moved to Southwestern Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas in 1959 where Bruce received his M. DIV. Degree and Eva received her Bachelors of Religious Education degree in 1962. During that time, their son (Frank) was born in 1961.
Bruce was called to preach at Milo Baptist Church in Milo, Oklahoma in 1958. They drove 35 miles to and from the church on the weekends. The church provided a small house to stay in on Friday and Saturday nights. Bruce worked nights at a bank and later a custodian.
After graduation in 1962, Bruce was called to Lantana Baptist Church in Carbondale, Illinois. While there, their daughter (Cheryl) was born in 1964. The church built a new auditorium, and a daycare was started in 1965. Bruce directed the program, and Eva taught a class of 4 year olds and cooked the meals. The daycare grew to 80 in attendance – a wonderful way to minister to parents who were college students at Southwestern Illinois university (SIU). Many students attended church and ministered in teacher positions at the church.
In 1970 Bruce was called to Second Baptist church in West Frankfort, Illinois. A daycare was also started in 1971. Bruce and Eva directed the program where she taught and cooked. A bus ministry was begun under the direction of Youth Director, Mark Overmase. 4 buses travelled in the area on Sunday mornings. Many children were reached. The youth program was very exciting. Many found Christ to guide their lives.
Bruce was called to Park Avenue Baptist Church in 1978 in Mt. Vernon, Illinois. It was an older stately church with colonized styling. A regular ministry was carried on there. Frank and Cheryl were teenagers now. Frank graduated from high school and moved to New York to work with an Oil Company.
Vista Baptist Church in Olathe, Kansas called Bruce as pastor in 1980. It was a challenge as the new building was being completed and new people were being reached. During the 8 years there, Frank and Cheryl were both married and 3 grandchildren were born there. Frank joined the Air Force during this time.
In 1989 Bruce was called to preach at Webster Park Baptist church in Springfield, MO. He called it his "pre-retirement church" as it was smaller and not as busy. There was a need for daycare in the area. So, Bruce started a daycare center. Eunice Teeter became the director and used teachers from the church and Evangel College.
Bruce and Eva moved into her parent's home and cared for her mother until she passed away in 1990. They continued to live in their home. It has been redecorated and is a comfortable home for the family. It has always been a warm and restful place to come at vacation and holiday times. Eva always wanted to come home to retire and her dream had been fulfilled. The red brick, 2 story home was built in 1935 when Eva was born.
Burce retired from Webster Park Baptist Church in 2000 feeling that a younger man could better meet its needs. But he has not retired from preaching. He supplies at churches every opportunity that he gets and preaches 2 or 3 Sundays a month at Culpepper Place Assisted Living Center.
He also feels that Christian politicians should be elected so he helps them. He works 20 hours a week for Congressman Roy Blunt by visiting Senior Centers to help with Medicaid, prescription drugs, etc. He also represents Roy Blunt at Faith Based organizations.
Their church membership is at National Heights Baptist Church in Springfield, where they attend Sunday nights and Wednesday nights, plus social activities. He also teaches in Bible Study on occasions.
Eva was worried about becoming a pastors wife in the beginning, but soon realized this was a way she could serve the Lord by being herself. She did get the college degree, but never accomplished playing the piano. Although, she had enough lessons! She taught in mostly all age groups, but came to feel that her talents were with preschool. So she taught in Sunday school, vacation bible school, and daycare. When she moved to Springfield, she babysat grandchildren and others children in the home. She loved babysitting her great-granddaughter, Kaitlyn.
Bruce's parents, Forest and Esther have both passed away since Bruce and Eva moved back to Springfield. Bruce was able to meet many of their needs in old age for which he is thankful.
"We feel that God has blessed us greatly throughout our lives. We are thankful for our family, and all the places we were privileged to serve the Lord. There have been bumps along the way, but God has always been there to bring us through them. It is wonderful to look back on our lives and see His hand guiding even in small decisions. Many times, we were surprised by His guidance and it proved to be the best place for our lives. Our desire is to live for Him the remainder of our lives."
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the National Heights Baptist Church Youth program.