James Neal Towner

James Neal Towner died Dec. 5, 2009 after a long struggle with Alzheimer"™s. He was born June 21, 1929 in Tulsa. His parents John D. and Elizabeth Galler Towner and his brothers Harvey and John preceded him in death. He is survived by Sammy Lea Hardick, his wife of 39 years. Neal was ordained in the Roman Catholic priesthood in 1954 and served in Norman, Krebs and El Reno. He resigned from the priesthood in 1970. Neal was a graduate of OCU. He served as Vice-President of Blue Cross and Blue Shield and as the first Inspector General for the Okla. State Mental Health Dept. He retired from the Okla State Health Dept. in 1996. Neal had a passion for helping people. In addition to volunteering for several local charities, he worked tirelessly as a volunteer supplier of medical equipment for the Okla. sponsored Catholic mission in Santiago Atitlan, Guatemala. Memorial gifts in Neal"™s honor may be made to the Alzheimer"™s Association, OK/AR Chapter, 6465 S. Yale Ave, Suite 312, Tulsa OK 74136 (on-line at http://www.alz.org/alzokar), Neighbor for Neighbor, 300 SW 13, Okla. City OK 73109, or to a favorite charity. Memorial services will be held at 2 PM, Dec. 17, 2009, in the chapel at The Cathedral of Our Lady. 3214 N Lake Ave, Okla. City. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of James Neal Towner please visit our Sympathy Store.