Laura Kay Neal

LAURA KAY NEAL

1/12/1953 – 2/26/2025

Laura Kay Stanger came into this world on January 12, 1953 in Ponca City, Oklahoma. Her family moved to the California Bay Area when she was three years old, where she grew up in San Leandro. At the invitation of her friends, she began to attend Elmhurst Christian Church in Oakland. As a member of the church high school youth group, she went to Heavenly Hills Christian Camp in Twain Harte, CA. There, she accepted Jesus Christ as her savior and was baptized in the river. After graduating from San Leandro High School in 1971, Laura and several other members of the church youth group attended San Jose Bible College. While a freshman student there she met Brant Neal. They fell in love and were married on June 17, 1972.

While living in San Leandro, CA, Laura had her first child in 1975 and second daughter in1977. Laura and Brant later moved to Stockton, California and lived there just over a decade. There she was involved with singing in the church choir, directing children’s musicals, singing in a trio, and performing as a soloist. She enjoyed playing softball on the church team. While in Stockton, she had her third child. When he became a part of their lives, she began to homeschool her three children.

Laura was always willing to start a new adventure. When Brant received good job offers, she was ready to move. In their 52 years of marriage Laura and Brant lived in San Jose, Fullerton, San Leandro, Sacramento, and Stockton, California. They also lived in the Seattle, WA area once and the Spokane, WA area on three separate occasions. Laura and Brant considered Spokane home. Their travels also led them to homes in Florida, Georgia and Nebraska. During her first time living in Spokane, Laura brought two more daughters into the world.

Laura enjoyed reading, cooking, and attending concerts. Most of all, though, she enjoyed just spending time with her family. She dearly loved her husband, daughters and son (and their spouses), and all of her grandchildren.

Laura was preceded in death by her father James DeWitt Stanger, her mother Georgia Faye Stanger, her sister Barbara Lanter and her baby boy Michael Emmanuel Neal. Laura is survived by her husband, Brant; children Melanie Mi (Richard), Maralie Thomas, MacKenzie (Jessica) Neal, Mirriam Neal, and Marriah Neal; grandchildren Seleia, Elora, Amarra, Dashiell, Liam, Hadrian, Silas, and Lilian; brother Jerry Stanger.