Ella May Sanders McNeill Craig, age 96, passed away on Tuesday, September 2, 2025 in Eureka. Born on January 6, 1929, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, she was the only child of Dr. Samuel Thomas Sanders and Wilma Bacon Sanders.

Ella attended high school in Lafayette, Louisiana and Vermont College for Women in Montpelier, Vermont. She met her first husband, John Duncan McNeill, while they were both students at Columbia Bible College in Columbia, SC. She was a lifelong learner and along the way, she collected masters degrees in education, history, and later, social work.

John and Ella had four children, Sarah, Tim, Jim, and Sam. Ella instilled her love of music in each of them. We all enjoyed singing and harmonizing together as a family, both at home and on camping trips. Sarah and Sam had careers in music.

The family lived for a number of years in Greensboro, N.C. After Ella and John separated, she moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, to be near her aunt and uncle. There she met and married Douglas Craig in 1967. Together, they moved to California where they spent the rest of their lives. Doug passed away in 2017.

She taught elementary school for a number years before changing careers to become a social worker. Her greatest love after the Lord and her children was her music. She was a prolific composer of choral music and was a certified Sweet Adelines arranger. She also enjoyed singing in various church choirs and community choral ensembles.

In her retirement, she focused on music writing, volunteer work at the local food bank, supporting environmental and public interest causes, and socializing with her kitties. Ella and her son Sam McNeill performed many concerts at various assisted living facilities and nursing homes, always bringing joy to residents there.

A recent highlight for Mom was attending the 70th reunion of her graduating class of Columbia Bible College of Columbia, S.C. in 2019. The college choir performed one of Ella’s compositions at the Alumni Convocation. From her class of 1949, five members were in attendance..

Ella is survived by her four children, Sarah McNeill Spradley (Bruce) of Savannah Georgia; Tim McNeill (Sandra) of Lewisville, North Carolina; Jim McNeill of Cape Charles, Virginia; and Sam McNeill (Suerie), of Arcata, California. Also, her grandchildren: Alex Stratton (Johnny), Emily Spradley Graham (Mat), Mark Spradley (Kristi), Kristen McNeill Perry (Michael), Angela McNeill, Jennifer McNeill, Carmen McNeill, Ian McNeill, and Kale McNeill. Ella also had three great grandchildren.

Ella’s children are grateful to their brother Sam and his wife, Suerie, for always being there for our mom.

A memorial service and celebration of life will be held for Ella at 1 p.m. on Saturday, September 20, 2025 at First Presbyterian Church of Arcata. 670 11th Street, Arcata.

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