Dennis Harlan Neal

Funeral services for Dennis Harlan ""D.H."" Neal, 84, of Lufkin will be held Sunday, January 9, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. in the Carroway Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Randy Brown and Pastor Trey Ainsworth officiating. Interment will follow in the Whitehouse Cemetery.

Mr. Neal was born March 29, 1926 in Hemphill, Texas to the late Mae (Waller) and Jesse Harlan Neal, and died Thursday, January 6, 2011.

Mr. Neal served in the U.S. Army during World War II, stationed in the Philippines, and later with the U.S. Army Air Corp in Camp Beale, California. He was a retired foreman for Moore Brothers Construction Company, where he worked for 34 years.

More than anything, Mr. Neal loved his family. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He took pride in the fact that his children, all the way down to his great-grandchildren, would still climb in his lap and lovingly call him Poppy. Making other people smile and laugh with stories or a good practical joke brought him great joy.

Survivors include his daughters, Dian Ivy and husband Don of Lufkin and Tanya Hearne and husband Paul of Huntington; son, Floyd Neal Petri, Jr. and wife Barbara of Chester; grandchildren, Sandra Fails and husband John, Chuck Petri and wife Regina, all of Woodville, Adam Ivy and wife Lori of Lufkin, Amber Ford and husband Seth of The Woodlands, and Joshua Glover and wife Holly of Lufkin; great-grandchildren, Caitlyn Pratt, Tanner Pratt, Evan Ivy, Ethan Glover, Jacob Ivy, Sophie Glover and Connor Ford; brothers, J.W. ""Bill"" Neal and wife Mary and Gerald Neal and wife Kathy; sisters, Sue Smith and Gracie Stone and husband David; as well as many nieces, nephews and friends.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Neal was preceded in death by the love his life, wife of 54 years, Barbara Jeanette ""B.J."" Neal; granddaughter, Sonya Denise Petri; brothers, Roland ""Boley"" Neal and wife Bennie, Medford Earl Neal and Leroy Neal; and brother-in-law, Coy Smith.

Pallbearers will be Adam Ivy, Josh Glover, Chuck Petri, Seth Ford, Mark Pope, Scott Stone, Harlan Neal and Dennis Smith.

Honorary pallbearers will be Thomas Moore, Raymond Moore, Jerry Moore and Joe Brown.

Posthumous honorary pallbearers include Lloyd Moore, Dub Pope and Alton Carlisle.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090-6011.

The family extends special thanks to Mr. Neal's caregivers at Southland Nursing Center and Heart to Heart Hospice.

The family will welcome friends and loved ones from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Saturday evening at the funeral home.

Memories and condolences may be added at www.carrowayfuneralhome.com.

Carroway Funeral Home, Lufkin, directors.