Aline Shofner

Aline Renfro McNeil Shofner of Elysian Fields, TX, was born in Logansport, LA, on April 27th, 1921, and after a long and fruitful life went home to be with her Lord on March 3rd, 2016. Aline married her first love, Henry McNeil, at a very young age in 1936. They were married for 8 years and had four children: Charles, Joann (Susie), Patsy & James (Boogie). Aline later met, fell in love with, and married Ceal Shofner on July 26, 1947, and they had three sons: Bobby, Terry & Ricky. When God said to be fruitful & multiply, she obeyed! Aline worked at various jobs in her lifetime, which included Louisiana Army Ammunition Plant in Minden, LA, & Weingarten's meat department in Shreveport, LA. Aline loved to pull pranks and one that her children remember was when she would tell them to get up and get ready for school. She would tell them once, then they would have water dripped on their faces. They learned to get up the first time she told them after that! Aline also loved to fish, and after she quit working and moved from Shreveport to Elysian Fields, TX, as her grandson Denny said, they would pile in her big old car, drive to the fence line of someone's property, climbing over and under barbwire fences, and marching across pasture after pasture to go to one of the many ponds they would visit that day. She was always ready to go-all she needed was a fishing pole and a box of worms. Later, she and Ceal had a pond dug on their property so they could fish there. Aline always had a giving nature and it was very common for her to take meals to her elderly or disabled neighbors, which was repaid as she got older and in worse health, by her daughter Susie doing the same for her. Of course, she always went above & beyond for her children, even when some of them were grown. Aline & Henry got back together in 1991, at 70 years of age, several years after each of their spouses had passed away. They were companions for each other for 16 years and went on several Trail Rides until Henry's death in 2007. Aline was preceded in death by: her husbands, Ceal Shofner and Henry McNeil, her parents Monroe & Ester Renfro, two sisters Luanne McNamara & Faye Tyler, her brother and sister-in-law Jack & Grace Renfro; two sons Terry Shofner & Charles McNeil, one Granddaughter Patricia McNeil, one Grandson Rusty McNeil, and one Great-Grandson Zack Wilhite. Aline is survived by: 2 daughters, Joann (Susie) Dowden of Norfolk, Virginia, & Patsy Smith & husband Bill of Lake Dallas, TX.; 3 sons, James (Boogie) McNeil & wife Susan of Waskom, TX, Bobby Shofner & wife Susan of Haughton, LA, Ricky Shofner & wife Denise of Shreveport, LA.; 2 Daughters-In-Law Wanda Shofner of Shreveport, LA and Betty McNeil of Amity, AR; 16 Grandchildren: Mike McNeil, Cindy McNeil, Deb Dowden-Crockett, Bubba Dowden, Sharon Johnson, Karen Andruskiewicz, John McNeil, Mark McNeil, Damon McNeil, Denny Shofner, Patty Wilhite, Bobby Shofner, Jr., Christy Crites, Stephanie Shofner, Amanda Shofner, and Evan Shofner 24 Great-Grandchildren, 17 Great-Great-Grandchildren; many Nieces & Nephews, along with her fantastic neighbors, Richard & Joann Roark, who were always there for her. The family is especially thankful to Sherry Tindall, Annie Dorene Rogers, and Gail Williams for their wonderful care and compassion for Mrs. Shofner.