Afton Jean O'Neal

AJ O’Neal (Afton Jean Hitt), 88 of Cascade and Boise died surrounded by her family Saturday December 13, 2025. Born in Mountain Home, Idaho on March 14, 1937, to Elizabeth Kennedy Sproat (Hitt) and Houston Taylor Hitt. She was raised in Boise and graduated from Boise High School in 1956. She graduated from St. Alphonsus X-ray technician program in 1958. That same year she married the love of her life, James Warren O’Neal, on June 15, 1958. They raised three children in Boise and were active members of Cole Community Church. During this time, AJ was active in Christian Women’s Club where she shared her love of Jesus, shared the good news of the gospel at clubs around the Northwest, and developed lifelong friendships.

Jim and AJ built their dream home on Osprey Ridge – Pine Lake Ranch – Cascade, Idaho and retired there in 1990 becoming members of the Cascade Community Church. Jim passed way in 1991, but AJ continued to live and enjoy mountain life on Osprey Ridge until July 2021. After 31 years of caring for the wildlife, managing 10 acres of timber, and several feet of winter snow – impossible without the help of her brother Douglas M. Hitt and wonderful neighbors – she moved back to east Boise where she made numerous friends in her new neighborhood.

AJ loved to laugh and take care of her family and friends. She was a fantastic host, feeding everyone, and was known for her Scottish short bread and huckleberry jam delivered far and wide at Christmas. She laughed contagiously, had the most generous heart, loved unconditionally and will be remembered as a faithful friend, wonderful mother and grandma.

She was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters, five brothers, her husband James W. O’Neal and her son Kevin J. O’Neal. She is survived by her daughter in law Sharon O’Neal (Farnlund), daughter Lisa O’Neal Miller (Ty), and her son Timothy L. O’Neal (Robin Stueckle), 8 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren, and one great, great grandchild.

The family would like to thank the wonderful staff at the Terraces of Boise, Skilled Nursing Center, and St. Luke’s Hospice. A celebration of life followed by lunch will be held on March 14th, 2026, 11:00am at Living Hope Bible Church, 14301 W. McMillian Rd., Boise, Idaho 83713. The service will be live streamed for those that cannot attend in person. The link will be available and posted here March 7th.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Idaho Talking Book Service at HTTPS://idahotalkingbooks.org or St. Luke’s Hospice HTTPS://stlukeshospice.com or your favorite charity.

Graveside service will be held on June 20th, 1:00pm at the Cascade Cemetery.