Grace Martin Neal never took up much space in this world, but, in the roles of teacher, mother, grandmother, civic leader and friend, she blazed a wide trail for nearly 90 years, affecting hundreds along the way.

Her earthly journey ended Saturday, March 29, at a Norman hospital.

Grace Martin was born April 19, 1913, to John Henson and Francis Adeline Martin at Pontotoc, Oklahoma.

She was not an idle child, but supplemented the family finances by picking cotton.

She grew up in Pontotoc County and earned her teaching degree at East Central University, Ada. Teaching meant much more to her than sitting behind a desk grading papers. At her earliest teaching assignment at Jackson School in Tishomingo, she rode a horse to school, where she taught and played with students in all eight grades at the one-room schoolhouse.

She was married November 29, 1933, in Wewoka to Raymond Neal and moved with him to Wanette, where she taught at nearby Gilbert School, another one-room, eight-grade school. During her career, she taught at Wanette, Rose Hill and Tribbey.

While the children's education was her job, that was not her only concern. Several children who showed up in class without adequate shoes or coats received a discrete bundle of needed items from their teacher. She was even known to show up in court, assuring a stern judge she would make sure her student would walk a more narrow path if released from jail.

Stray dogs that wandered into the school yard looking for a playmate could expect Gracie to smuggle leftovers to them from the cafeteria.

After her retirement, Gracie served on a two-county committee to review the cases of children who had been placed in foster care. She was appointed to the committee by recently retired District Judge Glenn Dale Carter, who had this to say about Grace Neal: "She had a wealth of knowledge and experience. She knew when to give a second chance and when to draw the line. She showed the same sense of diplomacy and finesse in working with other members. She showed tact and discretion and diplomacy in working with social workers."

While teaching was an important part of Grace Neal's life, her family was everything. She found a soulmate in her daughter, Cindy Neal Lowery, and saw Cindy as capable of accomplishing anything. One of Cindy's accomplishments, according to Gracie, was choosing the perfect son-in-law, Cliff Lowery.

After the March 3, 1993, death of Gracie's husband, Raymond, she had enough faith in her son-in-law to turn over to him operations of Neal Farms, which had been in the Neal family for a century. Of all the things Cindy and Cliff did right, their crowning achievement was the delivery of Gracie's only grandchild, John Houston Lowery, for whom Grace Neal was "Meme." It may be said that there was only one thing about which Meme and John Houston disagreed. Meme, known for stating exactly what was on her mind, declared John Houston is perfect and he declared only God is perfect. As Meme, Gracie glowed with pride over John Houston's academic and athletic accomplishments.

When he was in kindergarten, Gracie went to his classroom one day every week to read to the class. Before long, the entire class called her Meme and they honored her with a birthday party in the spring.

Grace Neal was an active member of the United Methodist Church of Wanette, Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority and the Eastern Star, serving twice as worthy matron for the Wanette chapter.

Along with other charity work, she organized a successful local fund drive for the American Heart Association.

Whatever she was doing, Grace Neal did with passion - whether cooking and entertaining, cheering the Dallas Cowboys' latest touchdown, dancing up a storm, explaining a Shakespearean play to a student, playing piano by ear or just watching her grandson grow.

Life wasn't always easy, but she faced down all of life's problems with dignity, sympathy, wisdom and, yes, grace.

Services are set for 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at the United Methodist Church in Wanette with the Rev. Dale Durnell officiating, assisted by the Rev. Gene Teel and the Rev. Jim Adams. Viewing is set for Tuesday evening and Wednesday until service time at the Cooper Chapel in Wanette.

The casket will be closed at service time and will not be opened after the service.

Burial will follow at Wanette Cemetery. Cooper Funeral Home, Tecumseh, is in charge of arrangements.

Memorials may be made to the Wanette School Library, in care of Brenda Roberts, PO Box 161, Wanette Oklahoma 74878.

In addition to her husband, she also was preceded in death by six brothers and a sister, Jinks, James, William, George, John Jr., May and Willie "Sugar."

Surviving relatives include her daughter and son-in-law, Cindy and Cliff Lowery, Wanette, and her grandson, John Houston Lowery, Wanette.