Obituary of Cornelia Florence McJury

Cornelia "Neil" "Miss Neil" (Raftery) Mc Jury, age 67, slipped away peacefully at home in her sleep, March 8, 2011, after a courageous battle with lung cancer. She was a loving wife, caring sister and great friend to all. Neil was born in upstate, Kingston, NY, on August 28, 1943 and joined her two older sisters, Sylvia and Loretta. When she was 3 years old we moved to Florida. Neil was an imp even then. In the trailer park, there was a common laundry room. While Mom was doing the laundry Neil went into the adjoining ladies room and plugged up the sinks until they ran over, flooded the entire bathroom and came running out the door. Neil had to stay with Mom during laundry days from then on. We moved to town and soon Neil began 1st grade at St. Ann"s School where she made lifetime friends. Neil and Pat met at St Ann"s High School. They began dating a few years later and married in 1966. They bought a lovely home in Riviera Beach with a pool. Pat was a police officer in the Riviera Beach K-9 Unit which also traveled the East coast for training and competition and Neil was a scorekeeper. They had many family and friend gatherings and parties during their life in Florida. In 1979 they moved to their country farm home in Lafayette, TN, near our cousin, Helen & Doug Hunt. Neil loved the quiet life, the adventures of living on a farm with animals, gardens, flowers, the changes of the seasons and changing loyalty from the Miami Dolphins to the Tennessee Titans. Each year when she and Pat came to Florida some of these same classmates spent an evening at Cardello"s Restaurant to share memories and update their new life events. Loretta and Jack often included Neil and Sylvia in their family vacations all over the West, so they could enjoy watching Loretta"s children, Mary, John and Denise as they were growing up. We all enjoyed seeing Yellowstone National Park, Glacier Nat. Park, Montana, Colorado, Wyoming and the Dakota"s. Neil had a marvelous time on our Alaskan Cruise, enjoying the people, scenery & animals. She never met a stranger on a trip, just new friends. Sylvia and Neil"s trip to Italy was another gift of sharing adventures, sharing spiritually & historically and meeting more new friends. Neil told me every week about the job she loved so much, but mostly it was the caring friends at Hackney. They made her feel so special, so important. She was so honored when you gave her the name plate " "Miss Neil". She was touched by their love and concern when they sponsored her cause, wore "Stand Up to Cancer" T-shirts and gave her the "I"m in the Fight" t-shirt. Her pets, Sophie, Yetti, Lucy and Jack, gave her interesting stories to tell & many hours of enjoyment. Neil, I remember going in the car with Daddy, Loretta and one of our aunts to pick you and Momma up from the Benedictine Hospital in Kingston, NY, to bring you home. I was with you when you came into this world. I was here to take care of you when you needed me and told you that you were very much loved. You were always a very loving person and loved by many, we will miss you, but it was alright for you to let go and go to heaven. Be out of pain and with God in heaven. We love you, Neil.