Neil J. Albright, 61, of Grove, Oklahoma, passed from this life after multiple struggles with cancer on Oct. 17, 2019, at Mercy Hospital in Joplin, Missouri. He was born Feb. 22, 1958, to parents Jimmy and Lesta Labadie Albright at Jane Phillips Hospital in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.
Neil enjoyed all his secondary school years in Putnam City School System, Oklahoma City; competing in football, baseball, wrestling and track and field teams. He graduated in 1976 then attended the University of Oklahoma before joining the family oil services business.
In 1988, Neil as a building entrepreneur, began researching the history, culture, and lifestyles of Native American tribes of Oklahoma, especially “The Osage”. Neil was proud to be an enrolled member of the Osage Nation and of his Osage heritage from his great-grandfather Charles L. Labadie, original allottee #1401, born at the St. Paul Mission, Labette County, Kansas in 1870 and grandfather, Alvin L. Labadie, original allottee #1404.
Neil was knowledgeable and instrumental in growing the family’s traditional and contemporary Native American retails business to three successful stores in Edmond, Oklahoma City, and Tulsa. Most recently Neil was employed by Simmons Food, Southwest City, Missouri.
Neil was preceded in death by his father, brother Wade Albright and stepdad Glen Oliver. Survivors are his wife, Pamela Albright, his mother Lesta Oliver, brother Kyle Albright (Kathy), nephew Adam Albright (Doni), and his niece Chotsie Albright Barnes (Tyler). Neil’s loving family includes uncle Milton Labadie, aunt Annetta Robertson, and all his special cousins and friends.
A Celebration of Neil’s Life was held on Nov. 9, 2019, at the Cayuga Splitlog Mission Church in Grove, Oklahoma. Pastor Tyler Barnes and Pastor Scott Kohnle officiated the Memorial Service.
By
Osage News
Original Publish Date: 2019-11-18 00:00:00
