Julia Faye Rader Neel

Julia Faye Rader Neel passed away on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2006, after a lengthy illness. She was born on Aug. 9, 1914, in Lockhart, Texas, to Harris Arthur and Julia Gatewood Norment Rader, both of whom preceded her.
After preparatory schooling in Lockhart, Julia received her Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism from the University of Texas at Austin. Julia worked in State

Government for her entire career. She served briefly on the staff of Governor W. Lee O’Daniel before becoming a key administrative assistant and valued associate in the entire administration of Governor Coke Stevenson. When he left office, she worked briefly for the Texas Employment Commission before becoming one of the first staff members of the newly established Texas Legislative Council, a research and bill-drafting agency for the Texas Legislature, in 1948. There, she was promoted and served in many key positions through the years, including Director of Research.
Julia married Fredric Thomas Neel, Jr., of Menard, Texas, in January of 1942. She was widowed in May of 1944 when Lt. Neel was killed in action in the air war over Germany.
Julia lived in Austin for 50 years, and since July 2001, she had resided at the Summit at Northwest Hills, an assisted living facility where the caregivers made extraordinary efforts to make her last years as comfortable and family like as possible. A special thanks to Dr. Laura Johnson Guerrero for many years of loving care, and to her dentist, Dr. Tim Wellick, for services above and beyond the standard.
Julia is survived by a cousin, Elizabeth Kranz Johnson of Minnesota, numerous second-cousins, and a host of friends who cherish her memory. Julia typified the strong, intelligent, patriotic women who did so much to make Texas the great state it has become.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 28, 2006, at the First Presbyterian Church of Lockhart. Interment in the family plot with Julia’s parents in the Lockhart City Cemetery will immediately follow the services.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Lifeline at Marywood, 510 W. 26th St., Austin, Texas, 78705, or to a benevolence of choice.