Springfield loses one of it's grand ladies and early pioneers

[strider]

Lisa Neary's memorial will be held From 3:00 to 5:00 this Sunday, the 22nd of Nevember at the Woman's Club.  A few have already expressed their desire to speak and so we will be happy to open the floor up to anyone who wishes to share something about Lisa.

[chris farley]

If you go to the fountain in Klutho park you will see a bench dedicated to Michael Bryant, it is made of the same material as the fountain base.  We are planning to put one there for Lisa, If you wish to donate towards it you will make us very happy.  the donations will pass Through SHEC - checks should be made payable to SHEC and may be dropped off at the Trautman house on 5th.  There is a thread started for Lisa there and a lovely article about Lisa by Alicia Dorsie-Frank, we are asking people two things, donate to the bench and write a small piece regarding your memories of Lisa. You may send your memories to adam@trautmannandcompany.com - they have already made a generous donation to the cause.
Chris Farley

[Debbie Thompson]

For Sunday...the memorial service...the address for the Springfield Woman's Club is 210 W. 7th Street, corner of 7th and Silver.

[strider]

I pulled this from the SPAR Council website:

Please read the following excerpted tribute from Dave Cedel.

Almost two years ago, I got a call from a couple on E 7th in Springfield that was trying to sell their long-time home themselves. They had forgotten my name, my having left the neighborhood almost 15 years ago, and they associated me with my ex, Debbie, and the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, NOT real estate. I did not tip anything off until we got together, and then it was very cool.

Debbie and Lisa had been cronies at the Woman's Club. Lisa recalled that Debbie was a great Club member and was in charge of keeping the Coke machine. When I met with Phil and Lisa almost two years ago on a listing appointment, we went through all the old stories and more. Mindy (my sis) actually showed up at the Open House.

Lisa's real gift has been as an organizer and grant writer. She wrote grants to help restore what was known as "Confederate Memorial Park" on the east side, get the statue/fountain done at the old ball yard on the west side of Main, plus many others. She was the glue that held the Woman's Club and the Home Tour together for nearly 20 years. She was exotic, intelligent, funny, and knowing. There was a kind of elegance and a kind of unique style that even Debbie liked. Lisa was totally dedicated to the progression of Springfield.

Like almost anyone who flies close to the sun, most of our wings are wax. Reggie Fountain at Prudential helped me get the short sale done on the sale of the house, and I mean that sincerely. What was really touching is that the buyers brought a precious orchid as a present for Lisa to the closing. The Nearys, basically losing their house and facing Lisa's demise, held hands under the table during the closing.

Lisa is no longer with us. I received a call from Phil today, and the memorial will be Sunday at 3 PM at the Woman's Club

[chris farley]

I have been in touch with Pedroni's and they are looking for the mold used to cast the bench for Michael.   I hope all will participate and donate through SHEC, Lisa deserves it. If enough money is collected we could also put a plaque in Confederate Park recognizing the tremendous contribution by Melissa and Lisa.  Melissa is writing her memories for the SHEC web also.

[sheclown]

  I would imagine there will be an opportunity to donate at Lisa's gathering at the Women's Club tomorrow afternoon?

It will be informal, some cake, some cookies, some coffee, exchange of stories and words of comfort for Phil.  A chance to remember Lisa, together.

[strider]

The memorial was held this Sunday and many of you attended.  Several people spoke and one even sang for her (Thank you, John).  Thank you to Sheclown for the cakes, thank you to Pat and Alan for the use of the Woman's Club and the help you gave and Phil would like to extend his thanks to all who attended and who have posted here.

There is one last thing.  Chris Farley is very graciously spending some of her time arranging for a bench to honor Lisa. Phil as well as the rest of us are very grateful for her efforts.  Several have donated already and I hope more of you will.  Here are a couple of posts Chris made elsewhere about the bench:

Please we have to honor Lisa, will you donate towards her bench which is to be custom poured by Pedroni, who probably cast the original balustrades.

We are about 2/3rds there, SACARC is giving $100, Strider and Sheclown gave very generously, others have also. We are probably looking at a $2000 bill, will you give and honor someone who gave so much.

...it will go with Michael Bryant's at the Dillon fountain at 3rd and Silver. Interest from the matching funds held in trust for many years by Lisa and the club helped pay for the fountain. If you go look at Michael's bench you will see it is almost a work of art.

If we should collect more money than required, we would like to put a plaque on the Dog park fence or somewhere there, she deserves it.

I believe you can PM Chris Farley and she will accept the donations or you can drop them off at Michael Trautmans.  Checks can be made out to SHEC, which is handling the funds for this memorial.

Lisa will be missed, but always remembered.