GLORIA JEAN McNIEL

Gloria Jean (Weeks) McNiel went to her heavenly home on Thursday, January 9, 2014.
Gloria was born in Coffee Springs, AL to Dorothy Jean and Adolph Weeks on September 18, 1946. When she was a toddler, they moved to Columbus, GA where she lived until she was eight. When her father, Adolph, died they moved to Vernon, FL. When her mother married Randall Newton in 1960, they all moved to Panama City. She often said "most children only have one father……we were lucky to have two great daddies". From that union came two wonderful siblings…..Randy and Tammy). Gloria was a 1964 graduate of Bay High School and a 1966 graduate of Gulf Coast Community College.
She was the consummate sister and friend to her brothers and sisters and to her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law. We believe that when you look up the word "friend", you will find her name as part of the definition. If you were ever her friend…..you were always her friend….whether she met you face-to-face or knew you from a distance – you were her friend.
She was preceded in death by her father, Adolph Weeks; mother, Jean Weeks Newton; step father, Randall Newton; and father and mother-in-law, L. O. and Vera McNiel.
She is survived by her loving husband of 47 years and her partner til the end, James W. "Jimmy" McNiel, Sr., her son, James W. McNiel II; and her three grandchildren, Samantha, Amanda and James Alan McNiel. Her son and her grandchildren were the "lights of her life" – there was nothing she wouldn't do for them. She is also survived and dearly loved by her brothers and sisters, Jerry Weeks (Linda), Barbara Malone (Rich), Eris Weeks (Sylvia), Randy Newton, and Tammy Wilson (Mark) ; former daughter-in-law, Susan K. Sheehan; along with her 9 nephews and nieces, Jerry Weeks, Jr. (Staci), Melody Vanderlaan (Kris), Artie Kimbrough (Wendy), Greg Kimbrough (Jona), Nathan Weeks (Allison), Ben Weeks, Emily Messer (Ben), Jordan Wilson and Matthew Wilson. She was also loved by 21 great nephews and nieces, an aunt, two uncles and a whole lot of cousins who will miss her dearly. She was caring, kind, compassionate, and had a real soft spot for babies and children. She was a dear friend, a sister, a mother, a grandmother (or to her grandchildren "momal") and the best aunt & great aunt ever. How many great aunts have a relationship with their great nieces and nephews….well, she did. She was Aunt Gogie to them and they loved her.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday in the Wilson Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Clyde Ellison officiating. Interment will follow in Evergreen Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Saturday from 6 – 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, those desiring may make memorial donations to Covenant Hospice, 107 W 19th Street, Panama City, FL 32405 or to the charity of your choice.
No one can imagine how much we will miss her. She was a wonderful wife, a loving mother and the grandmother all would hope to have. In her final days, she was more concerned about her husband, Jimmy, than herself. Her thoughts were of him, her son, her precious grandchildren, and her family. She wanted each to know how very much she loved them.
The family would like to express their deepest appreciation to Dr. Asim Khattak and his nurse Debbie; Dr. Shilpa Reddy, Davita Coastal Dialysis Staff and the staff of Covenant Hospice.
Active pallbearers will be Gloria's nephews: Art L. Kimbrough III, Jerry L. Weeks, Jr., Nathan E. Weeks, Gregory Kimbrough, Benjamin J. Weeks, Kris Vanderlaan and Ben Messer. Honorary pallbearers will be Matthew T. Wilson, Ronnie & Mary Hitt, Bob & Linda Richardson, Bill Harris, Eddie & Sheree Waters, and John T. Usher.

Wilson Funeral Home