Millinocket – Linda B. Neal died Thursday, May 20, 2021, at a local hospital. She was born October 24, 1949 in Millinocket, the daughter of Ludger Victor and Annie Mable (Trot) Bouchard. Linda attended St. Martin of Tours Catholic School and graduated from Stearns High School, class of 1968. She earned a secretarial diploma from Husson College in Bangor, an associate’s degree from Macomb County Community College in Warren, Michigan, her Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Maine, Orono, in 1973 and her graduate degree in Education in 1978. Linda taught reading at Warsaw Junior High School in Pittsfield in 1973, English at Foxcroft Academy, Dover-Foxcroft, 1974-75, and completed her thirty year teaching career at Stearns High School, Millinocket in 2003. Much of her teaching career was also dedicated to adults. She taught English evenings for fifteen years, thirty semesters from 1978-1993. She also served as the programs secretary under two directors, Terrence Daigle and Paul MacDonald, 1982-2000, then she became Director of Adult Education for the Millinocket School System. In 2004 she served as Director of two communities, Millinocket and East Millinocket which also served Medway and Woodville. In 2005 she once again concentrated her efforts in Millinocket only. In 2006 she retired from Directorship but continued as Chief Examiner for the GED. Mrs. Neal’s work was vital to the many unemployed and displaced workers seeking further training following the closure of the Great Northern Paper Company. She was nominated by former students to Who’s Who in American Teachers in 1998, 2003, 2005 and 2006 and to the National Honor Roll’s Outstanding American Teachers in 2006. She was a member of the Millinocket Education Association, the Maine Education Association, the National Education Association and the Maine Adult Education Association. She was a communicant of St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church and served on the Katahdin area Transition Team.
In addition to her mother, Linda is survived by her husband of 45 years Jeffrey A. Neal, a brother, Richard W. Bouchard and wife Eileen of Livonia, Michigan and two sisters, Sharon A. Picard of Bradley, and Beverly L. Montgomery and John of Nekoosa, Wisconsin; and a sister-in-law, Heidi Bouchard of Clinton, Maryland. She is predeceased by her father, a brother Edward G. Bouchard, and a nephew, Brian Bouchard. She will be remembered fondly by many nieces, nephews, students, colleagues and friends. She was proud of her career, her husband, and her family.
Friends are invited to visit with the family 6-8 PM Monday, May 24 at the Lamson Funeral Home, 11 Tamarack Street, Millinocket. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11 AM Tuesday, May 25 at Christ the Divine Mercy Parish, St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church, 19 Colby Street, Millinocket with the Rev. Bruce Siket, pastor, presider. Intement will be at the Millinocket Cemetery. Gifts in memory of Linda may be sent to the Linda B. Neal Scholarship Fund (checks payable to Stearns High School), 199 State St., Millinocket, ME 04462. Services will be livestreamed and may be viewed, and messages of condolence expressed, at Linda’s Book of Memories at www.lamsonfh.com.