Neita Marie Campbell (Bolivar)'s Obituary
Neita Marie Armstrong Campbell, 87, passed away at Citizens Memorial Health Care Facility on October 13, 2023. She was born February 22, 1936, one of five children born to Ruth Butler Armstrong and J. Paul Armstrong. She was born and raised in Bolivar where she proudly graduated with the class of 1954. She married her high school sweetheart, John Polk Campbell, in 1957. Together they built a life and family with son Johnny and daughter Jill on the family farm more than 50 years before retiring from farm life and moving into town. Shortly after moving to town in 2016, Neita was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer and was on cancer treatments every 28 days for the rest of her life. She faced this diagnosis with determination and bravery. These traits were also evident during the last seven and a half months of her life spent dealing with dialysis and life in the nursing home. Even though she was in constant pain, everyone was amazed she always had a smile on her face.
In 1966, Neita was given the opportunity to be a part of the first public health office in Polk County. She was one of the two original employees of the Polk County Health Center where she continued work and oversee many new programs until she retired as administrator in 2001. Her work in public health brought her a chance of a lifetime and travelled with a group of public health professionals from around the country to Russia and Czechoslovakia. John accompanied her to help carry her suitcase. It was only one of their many travel adventures, but it was certainly the farthest distance and most memorable.
Neita was a member of the First Christian Church in Bolivar. She especially loved helping with the Church’s annual Christmas Bazaar. Even though her duties were to help with the condiments, her primary duty was social butterfly where you would find her flitting from table to table welcoming and talking to all the guests. This was something she looked forward to every year.
Neita and John were charter member of the Polk County Historical Society where Neita served as president during the county’s sesquicentennial celebration. They were also involved in the renovation and restoration of the North Ward Museum where there is a room dedicated to the Campbell family.
Neita was a member of the Silo Ridge Ladies Auxiliary. She looked forward to the monthly luncheons and playing dominoes. Her table even created their own dingleberry domino rules which included much laughter and fun.
Another favorite event was the annual Cherry Blossom Festival each spring in Marshfield, Missouri. This annual gathering allowed her to meet and become friends with many presidential descendants from across the country. Through the connections of the festival, Neita and Jill made more than one trip to Plains, Georgia where they had the privilege of meeting President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalyn. Plains and its residents held a special place in Neita’s heart, especially her Georgia “boyfriend” George and his wife Jan. Meeting the President and Mrs. Carter, Laura Bush and her twin daughters, Barbara and Jenna, numerous presidential descendants and the many Cherry Blossom Festival guests from classic television, movies, authors, veterans, etc. brought her much joy. She was a charter member of the Cherry Blossom Festival Auxiliary Committee. She truly cherished the friendships she made through the festival and the Marshfield community.
She was preceded in death by her parents Paul and Ruth Armstrong, her husband John Polk Campbell, her son Johnny Campbell, her brother Paul Dean Armstrong and her sister Joy Sue Wilkinson. She is survived by her daughter Jill Campbell (Bolivar) and precious grandpups Tilly and CoCo, her sister Lois Werts (Bolivar), her brother and sister-in-law J.O. and Rose Armstrong (Strafford) as well as several nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Memorial Contributions may be made to the Polk County Museum (North Ward) or the Carrie J. Babb Cancer Center in Bolivar.
Services for Neita will be held Wednesday, October 18, 2023 at the Butler Funeral Home in Bolivar, starting at 1:00 P.M. Visitation for Neita will be held Tuesday evening, October 17, from 5:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. at the Butler Funeral Home.
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