Edith Nealis

Edith Mae Romig Nealis, 97, of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, passed away September 29, 2021.

Edith was born on a farm east of Independence, Kansas, to Wilmer and Stella Romig, on July 25, 1924.  She attended one-room Irish Creek School through the 8th Grade; then graduated from Independence High School in 1942.  She attained no further degrees, but learned banking from the ground up, including training on the early banking computers.

After high school, she moved to Bartlesville where she began working as a Check Return Girl and soon became a Teller at Union National Bank.   After hours, she worked as a Bookkeeper at Gunter Rexall Drug.   In July, 1946, she married Leonard Nealis.   He was a salesman at Piper Furniture, then Manager of Bartlesville Electric until he retired.  From 1948 to 1958, she stayed at home to raise her two children, Gary and Peggy.  After they started school, she returned to the bank, progressing from Teller, to Motor Bank Teller, to Auditor, and finally to Assistant Vice President.  She retired in 1982, but stayed a banker at heart.  She was one of the first female bank officers in the state.  She was a founding member of the Tuxedo Lionettes, a member of the Bartlesville Pilot Club, and a long-time member of East Cross United  Methodist Church.   She enjoyed sewing and family activities.

She was a loving, fair-minded mother, with a mischievous sense of humor, who taught by example and encouraged learning.  Some of her children’s fondest memories were the family’s annual summer vacations throughout the country.  Later, she and Leonard took trips to Austria, Germany, Ireland, Bermuda, and Mexico.  After retirement, she and Leonard enjoyed inviting each of the grandchildren to spend a week with them every summer, including trips to the Kiddie Park.  Her grandchildren would agree that she was a formidable card and dominoes player – she played to win and taught them the same.  She proudly watched them become productive citizens; with her as a role-model, what else could they be.

She is survived by her son Gary Nealis, of the city, her daughter Peggy Nealis Burner (Steven) of Oklahoma City, her granddaughters Emily Burner of Tulsa and Elizabeth Burner of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and grandson Scott Burner (Jordan) of Winston-Salem, North Carolina.  She was thrilled to hear that Scott and Jordan would soon make her a Great Grandmother.  She is preceded in death by her husband of nearly 62 years Leonard Nealis, father Wilmer Romig, mother Stella Surber Romig, older sister Grace Romig Inman, and younger brother Delbert Romig.  She was the matriarch of the extended Romig family.

The family wishes to thank the staffs of Tallgrass Estates, Brookdale Bartlesville North, and Rivercross Hospice for their years of kindness, tender loving care, and friendship to our mother and grandmother.