My beautiful wife is gone. I will never again hold her in my arms, see her smile, hear her laugh, or kiss her lips. We loved our life together, but Jeannie grew weary of the battle to regain her health following lung cancer surgery and passed away in her sleep. Even with her medical issues, she remained her happy wonderful self.

Jeannie was the oldest of four children. She was predeceased by her mother Marvis Neale and brother Emory "Mike" Neale and is survived by her best friends, sisters Annie Careyette and Carolyn Luke. She was born on 17 March 1946 into a military family in Frederick, MD, and moved to various places, arriving in Lompoc in 1962. She graduated from Lompoc High School in the class of 1964. She was proud that she was Irish and born on Saint Patrick's Day. Following high school, she worked in the administrative field. She enjoyed her job as a bookkeeper at Linden's Furniture store for many years but, eventually accepted a position as a bookkeeper with Western Farm.  Later she moved into banking where she worked for Bank of America and Vandenberg Federal Credit Union.

In 1972 she met her husband Dudley who she married in 1974. For 51 years they rode the ups and downs of an amazing, wonderful, and exciting relationship. They were rarely apart, and love and good fortune followed them everywhere.

Her many chihuahuas were her kids. She rescued them and showered them with love and affection. They wait for her still. She excelled at crossword puzzles, word games, sewing, needlepoint, and dancing. She would spend wonderful hours on the phone talking to her sisters. She enjoyed eating out, Solvang at Christmas, and buying gifts. Sleepovers and taking her nieces and nephews to the beach when they were children were some of her happiest days.

She loved to travel the US with Dudley to bowling tournaments, visiting new cities, seeing the sites, enjoying new foods, going to shows, and finding wonderful places to shop.  She loved cross-country train trips, outings in the motorhome, and vacations in Phoenix, San Diego, Las Vegas, Reno, Palm Springs, and Catalina Island. Family came first with Jeannie, and she sparkled at family gathering whether here in California or with Dudley's family in Cape Cod Massachusetts. She was especially proud of her relationship with Dudley's daughter Kim Larson and grandkids Corey and Rachel. Adventures with them were always full of fun with happy memories.

Jeannie was known as "The Giver". She would give whatever was needed. She was like a rainbow; beautiful, colorful, brilliant, exotic, and gone all too soon. For those of us who knew and loved her, all we want is a chance to be with her just one more time.

Jeannie asked that no services be held.