Anna Lou Planck McNeill, 92, of Flemingsburg, passed away peacefully on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, at Pioneer Trace Nursing Facility with a daughter and close family friend by her side.

She was born March 16, 1930, in Flemingsburg, Ky.  to Lillian Loraine Carpenter Planck, an educator, and Samuel Forman Planck, a USPS carrier, who died when Anna Lou was 13. Her mother later married Richard Applegate and she became part of a happily blended family.

Anna Lou graduated from Fleming County High School in 1948 and was first runner-up in the Miss Kentucky Pageant a year later. She majored in music at Berea College where she met Peter T. McNeill. They were married in June 1950 when she paused her education and soon became a busy and loving farm wife and mother. After the children were in school, she taught music in five elementary schools in Fleming County while resuming her education at Morehead State University. She graduated in 1964 with a BA in Music and a minor in organ in the same ceremony as her mother who had also returned to school later in life.

Church work and community service were important to the McNeills and she held leadership positions in the PTA, the Homemakers Club, the Rural Electrification Auxiliary, as well as the Flemingsburg First United Methodist Church, which she attended from childhood and later served as the church's choir director and organist. At one point she served as supply organist for three Flemingsburg churches simultaneously.

They traveled extensively throughout Pete's career living in Thailand, the Philippines, and Indonesia, as well as extended stays in Bolivia, Romania, Croatia, Brazil, and Ukraine, where he worked with various agricultural cooperatives. While living overseas Anna Lou understood that music is truly a universal language. She was a gifted soprano, pianist, and organist and was active in many choral groups who sang for a wide range of dignitaries including the King of Thailand in Bangkok and President Ferdinand Marcos and his wife Imelda in the Philippines. She also sang with the Asia Minors, an international group of women who performed throughout the Philippines. When she wasn't absorbing local art and culture, she occasionally taught English as a second language.

After returning to Flemingsburg from Pete's international work, Anna Lou directed The Golden Chords, a choral group founded by Mrs. Robin Sutherland that has provided musical enjoyment in Fleming and surrounding Counties since the 1980s. She was honored by the Fleming County chapter of Beta Sigma Phi, a social sorority, when they named her Lady of the Year in 1995.

Anna Lou is survived by four of her five children, Dr. Sam (Helen) McNeill of Paducah, Ky., Dr. Judy Linger (Joe Weissman) of High Bridge, N.J.,  Martha McNeill of Washington, D.C.,  and Rev. Andrew "Drew" (Mary Ellen) McNeill of Morehead, Ky.; two of her sisters, Jane Applegate Northup and Julia (Jim) Applegate Prater;  one of her brothers, Don Applegate; 12 grandchildren; 16 great grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; and great nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband Pete in 2012;  her parents; her oldest daughter, Marsha McCartney;  her son-in-law, Frank McCartney, two of her brothers, Sam Planck and Richard Applegate; and  her sister, Margaret Hall Stokes.

Visitation will be Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Flemingsburg First United Methodist Church followed immediately by her Celebration of Life at 1 p.m.  At the family's request, please wear a mask to help keep everyone in attendance healthy.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to the United Methodist Memorial Funds in Flemingsburg and/or Morehead (117 West Main Street, Flemingsburg KY 41041 and/or 227 West Main Street, Morehead, KY 40351), Morehead State University Wesley Foundation, (304 University Blvd, Morehead, KY 40351), and/or or The Peter T. McNeill Forestry Stewardship Scholarship at the University of Kentucky (UK CAFE Philanthropy Office; ATTN: P.T. McNeill Forestry Scholarship, 1451 University Dr., Lexington, KY 40503).

Our extended family was blessed by the outpouring of kindnesses and prayers during her illness and our bereavement.

Friends may offer online condolences at www.boonenickellfuneralhome.com