Evelyn Darlene Neal, 74 of Chestertown, MD., passed away on January 27, 2024, at Mercy Hospital in Baltimore MD.

Darlene was born on January 14, 1950 and raised in Chestertown, daughter of the late James Henry and Lelia Evelyn Gears. She was a 1968 graduate of Chestertown High School and after graduation attended and graduated from Best Beauty School in Dover, Delaware. After graduating she worked as a hairdresser for over 40 years for Janice Faulkner owner of the Rendezvous, and A Shear Design. She also worked at Ellen's Restaurant. She was most recently working at the Acme in Chestertown where she enjoyed talking with the customers that went through her cashier line and working with her co-workers.

During her high school years, she dated Francis Bruce Neal and on March 26, 1969, they married and continued to live in Chestertown and raised two sons.

Darlene was a member of The Chestertown Volunteer Fire Company for 55 years, where she served on several committee's and had held the office of President of the Auxiliary. She was also a member of the SGT Preston Ashley Post 228 Auxiliary in Rock Hall Md.

She enjoyed playing Bingo with her special angel Harper. She enjoyed spending time with her cousins Robin Black, Cindy Crouch, Sharon Ford and Debbie Cain. Visiting her cousins in Virginia and spending time with her cousins in Kent County. Family was most important to her, and she enjoyed spending time with them.

Along with her parents, she is preceded in death by her son James (Jamie) Evans Neal, and her marital parents Evans and Hallie Neal.

In addition to her husband Bruce, she is survived by her son Brian Keith Neal, granddaughter Faith Speer, two sister's Henrietta Maloney & Buster and Loree Morris, mother in-law Janice Martin Neal, her aunt Penny Gears, brother in-laws Jospeh Evans Neal and wife Vickie, Kenneth Wayne Neal and wife Alice, nieces and nephews, Donna Wode, Michael Maloney Jr .and wife Sara, Amanda Miller and husband Brad, Jenna Morris & Jordon, Lacy Morris, Ebbie Neal, Sandy Espdy, Lisa Dixon, Shelly Edwards, Meredith Grussing, and Jimmy Soha; great nieces and nephews, Brooke Wode, Dylan Wode, Parker Miller, Paige Miller, Max Maloney, Sam Maloney and Eliza Maloney, and her special bingo partner Harper.

A visitation will be held on Saturday, February 3 from 10 am to 12 pm at the Chestertown Vol Fire Company, 211 Maple Ave. Chestertown, MD, where funeral service will begin at 12 pm.  Burial will follow in Chester Cemetery, Chestertown, MD.

In honor of Darlene's dedication to the fire company, memorials may be offered to the Chestertown Vol. Fire Company, PO Box 296, Chestertown, MD 21620

Arrangements by Galena Funeral Home of Stephen L. Schaech