Joe Grant Neal

Joe Grant Neal, age 88 of Horse Cave, KY went home to be with his lord on Tuesday, June 25, 2024. He was residing with his surviving wife since 2014, Alletta Coats Bastin-Neal in both Horse Cave and Davenport, FL. He was a loving husband, caring father, doting grandfather, and a wonderful friend.

Joe was born on September 1, 1935 in Paintsville, KY. He grew up in Paintsville working on a dairy farm where his family delivered vegetables and dairy products to the doorsteps of families in Johnson County Kentucky. Joe graduated in 1953 from Meade Memorial. In school, Joe was active in the 4H Club where he won several ribbons. In college he was invited by congress to attend the National 4 H Club meeting. Joe graduated from Berea College in 1957. He taught school for a few years, He was a specialist in the US Army from 1958-1960 where he was a clerk typist. He married his first wife in 1962 and together they were blessed with two children and four grandchildren. Joe was a member of Derbyshire Baptist Church in Richmond, VA where he taught Sunday school and performed other duties for the church. Joe retired after 38 years from Southern States Co-Op as a project manager. He retired at the age of 63, however, his life of leisure was short lived as some time after the fall of the Soviet Union he received a call from Washington DC. Joe’s highly regarded reputation in the field of agriculture made him an ideal candidate to travel to the Ukraine, a recently independent country, in dire need of assistance to update their struggling grain industry. Joe was actively working on the ground and participating in meeting with Washington in all efforts to bring about improved yield in grain production. 

Joe is preceded in death by his first wife, Theresa Doris Godby Neal, his parents Ernest and Frances Lee Welch Neal; one sister, Sara Elizabeth Neal Hettinger. 

He is survived by his wife, Alletta Neal, Horse Cave, KY; one daughter Theresa Lynn Neal Ward (Matt), Overland Park, KS; one son, Steven Grant Neal (Tracy), Lawrenceville, GA; five grandchildren, Thomas Ward (Courtney) Pecos, TX, Joseph Ward, Carlsbad, NM, Carmella Neal, Gainesville, GA, Jeremy Neal, Lakewood, CO, and West Coffin, Jacksonville, FL; one sister Mary Alice Neal, Whitehall, Michigan; several nieces and nephews and other extended family also survive.

Honoring Joe’s wishes, cremation has been chosen and services will be private. In lieu of flowers please make donations in Joe’s memory to The Alzheimer’s Association, The American Heart Association, or the American Cancer Society. 

The family would like to thank all his friends and extended family for their thoughts and prayers, and they would like to issue a very special thank you to a brother-in-law and his wife, Mike and Elaine Godby and NHC, the caretakers, and sitters that helped out so much with Joe’s care

Brooks Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Condolences may be expressed online at www.brooksfuneralhomeky.com