Neil Mabry Obituary

Memorial services for Neil Mabry, 77, Branson will be held Wednesday, Sept. 2 at 1:00 P.M. at the Branson Christian Church - Disciples of Christ, 213 S. Commercial Street in Branson. Rev. Allen Minor will officiate. Private burial will be held at a later date. Mr. Mabry entered into rest on Friday, Aug. 28, 2020 at Cox South Medical Center, Springfield.

Neil was born March 20, 1943 at Belleville, Illinois to Leman and Blanche (Curry) Mabry. Graduating from Belleville High School, Belleville, Ill., he went to work at the Scott Air Base in Belleville, Ill. during the Vietnam War. Neil moved to Branson from Belleville in 1970. He worked at the Branson Beacon and at KRZK radio station.

Neil always had a desire to become a police officer. He was hired as a Correction Officer at the prison in Fordland where he worked for almost three years and at the same time attended Drury College in Springfield to receive his associate degree in law enforcement. He joined the Branson Police Department where he began his career as a police officer.

He advanced to an Investigator with Branson and worked there for almost 25 years. After retiring from Branson Police Department, Neil became an Investigator for the Taney County Prosecutor's Office for 10 years. He was also commissioned for 35 years with the Taney County Sheriff's Department. He was dedicated to his work and he strove to make a difference with the people he met.

Neil married his lovely wife Mary Anderson on Nov. 5, 1971 in Belleville, Ill. They had celebrated forty-eight years together last winter. Neil was a member of the Disciples of Christ Church in Branson. His hobbies were stamp collecting, elephant collecting, military memorabilia, photography, and history among a few. Neil enjoyed family get-togethers.

Those times revolved around Neil's humor and his love of life. He was preceded in death by his parents, a daughter Claudette Griffith; grandchildren Katrina Moore, Debra King, great grandchildren Wyatt Lee Garcia and Baby Bean Garcia. Neil is survived by his wife Mary Mabry of the home; three sons Lane Griffith (Patty) of Taneyville; Joseph Griffith of Lisbon, Ohio; Neil Mabry Jr. (Mandy) of Nixa; three daughters Renie King of Galesburg, Ill.; Peggy Griffith (Philip Witham) of Branson; Lisa Garcia (Frank Bermea) Senora, Calif.; twelve grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren.