Joe Allan Neill, 74, returned to his heavenly home on June 14, 2015 after a courageous battle with Lewy Body Dementia. His devotion to his family and his firm belief in God supported him in his struggle and ultimately gave him peace.
Joe was born to the late T.J. and Una Neill, a farmer and a homemaker respectively in Nubia, TX on October 3, 1940. Growing up in Mulberry Canyon on a dry land farm, he learned the value of hard work and family. He participated in football, basketball, baseball and track in his years at Merkel High School. He was a member of FFA and spent much of his time preparing his livestock for stock shows. He graduated from Merkel High School in 1959.
Joe was blessed with a large and loving family. On May 28, 1959 he married the love of his life, Mattie Lynn Arnold, at her grandparents' farm in Merkel. Joe attended Abilene Christian College and graduated in 1963 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Physical Education. He received his Masters Degree in Terrestrial Ecology from the University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire in 1976.
Joe coached for thirteen years at various schools with the majority of those years being in McCamey, Texas. He then became the McCamey Middle School principal for the next fourteen years. He was the Superintendent for McCamey ISD for ten years before his retirement. After retirement, Joe and Mattie returned back to Nubia, then two years ago they moved to Richardson, Texas due to declining health.
He was a member of the Optimist Club, Lions Club and past president of the McCamey Chamber of Commerce. He served on the state board of Texas Community Schools. He served three years on the Board of Directors of the Texas Association of Secondary Schools, six years on the Board of Directors of the West Texas Educators Credit Union and was a past Chairman of Educational Service Center Region 18 for the Superintendents Association. The State Senate of Texas designated a proclamation in recognition of his exemplary work at McCamey ISD.
He served as an elder at Merkel Church of Christ for six years. He taught Bible Classes his whole life and visited church members in their homes and in the hospital. He served at funeral dinners and visited the Merkel Nursing Home regularly serving them communion.
He loved arrowhead hunting, traveling, golf and restoring classic cars. He was an avid reader and a lifelong learner.
Joe is survived by his wife, Mattie; his daughters Prissy Chambers and her husband Jackie of Midland, TX; Tammy Epley and her husband Ted of College Station, TX; Gigi Mason and her husband Mark of Richardson, TX; his grandchildren B.J. and Melisa Chambers, Alex Chambers, David and Amber Bond, Chase Epley and fianceé Nicole Tippit, A.J., Noah and Madi Mason; brothers Jim Neill and wife Joan of Birmingham, AL and Farris Neill and wife Freda of Merkel, TX; sisters Cevene Slater of Midland, TX and Katie Ferraro and husband Harper Creigh of Cypress, TX; a number of nieces and nephews; honorary daughters Ida Furrer of Switzerland, Anke Kempkens of Germany, and Rachael Valfre of Abilene, TX.
Visitation will be Tuesday, June 16, 2015 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Starbuck Funeral Home in Merkel, TX. Funeral services will be Wednesday, June 17, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. at the Merkel Church of Christ. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to Lewy Body Dementia Association, 912 Killian Hill Road, S.W., Lilburn, Georgia 30047 or Pioneers Abilene Early Stage Support Group, Alzheimers Association Office, 301 S. Pioneer, Suite 105, Abilene, Texas 79605.
Source: Starbuck Funeral Home, Merkel, TX
Joe was born to the late T.J. and Una Neill, a farmer and a homemaker respectively in Nubia, TX on October 3, 1940. Growing up in Mulberry Canyon on a dry land farm, he learned the value of hard work and family. He participated in football, basketball, baseball and track in his years at Merkel High School. He was a member of FFA and spent much of his time preparing his livestock for stock shows. He graduated from Merkel High School in 1959.
Joe was blessed with a large and loving family. On May 28, 1959 he married the love of his life, Mattie Lynn Arnold, at her grandparents' farm in Merkel. Joe attended Abilene Christian College and graduated in 1963 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Physical Education. He received his Masters Degree in Terrestrial Ecology from the University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire in 1976.
Joe coached for thirteen years at various schools with the majority of those years being in McCamey, Texas. He then became the McCamey Middle School principal for the next fourteen years. He was the Superintendent for McCamey ISD for ten years before his retirement. After retirement, Joe and Mattie returned back to Nubia, then two years ago they moved to Richardson, Texas due to declining health.
He was a member of the Optimist Club, Lions Club and past president of the McCamey Chamber of Commerce. He served on the state board of Texas Community Schools. He served three years on the Board of Directors of the Texas Association of Secondary Schools, six years on the Board of Directors of the West Texas Educators Credit Union and was a past Chairman of Educational Service Center Region 18 for the Superintendents Association. The State Senate of Texas designated a proclamation in recognition of his exemplary work at McCamey ISD.
He served as an elder at Merkel Church of Christ for six years. He taught Bible Classes his whole life and visited church members in their homes and in the hospital. He served at funeral dinners and visited the Merkel Nursing Home regularly serving them communion.
He loved arrowhead hunting, traveling, golf and restoring classic cars. He was an avid reader and a lifelong learner.
Joe is survived by his wife, Mattie; his daughters Prissy Chambers and her husband Jackie of Midland, TX; Tammy Epley and her husband Ted of College Station, TX; Gigi Mason and her husband Mark of Richardson, TX; his grandchildren B.J. and Melisa Chambers, Alex Chambers, David and Amber Bond, Chase Epley and fianceé Nicole Tippit, A.J., Noah and Madi Mason; brothers Jim Neill and wife Joan of Birmingham, AL and Farris Neill and wife Freda of Merkel, TX; sisters Cevene Slater of Midland, TX and Katie Ferraro and husband Harper Creigh of Cypress, TX; a number of nieces and nephews; honorary daughters Ida Furrer of Switzerland, Anke Kempkens of Germany, and Rachael Valfre of Abilene, TX.
Visitation will be Tuesday, June 16, 2015 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Starbuck Funeral Home in Merkel, TX. Funeral services will be Wednesday, June 17, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. at the Merkel Church of Christ. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to Lewy Body Dementia Association, 912 Killian Hill Road, S.W., Lilburn, Georgia 30047 or Pioneers Abilene Early Stage Support Group, Alzheimers Association Office, 301 S. Pioneer, Suite 105, Abilene, Texas 79605.
Source: Starbuck Funeral Home, Merkel, TX
Joe Allan Neill, 74, returned to his heavenly home on June 14, 2015 after a courageous battle with Lewy Body Dementia. His devotion to his family and his firm belief in God supported him in his struggle and ultimately gave him peace.
Joe was born to the late T.J. and Una Neill, a farmer and a homemaker respectively in Nubia, TX on October 3, 1940. Growing up in Mulberry Canyon on a dry land farm, he learned the value of hard work and family. He participated in football, basketball, baseball and track in his years at Merkel High School. He was a member of FFA and spent much of his time preparing his livestock for stock shows. He graduated from Merkel High School in 1959.
Joe was blessed with a large and loving family. On May 28, 1959 he married the love of his life, Mattie Lynn Arnold, at her grandparents' farm in Merkel. Joe attended Abilene Christian College and graduated in 1963 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Physical Education. He received his Masters Degree in Terrestrial Ecology from the University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire in 1976.
Joe coached for thirteen years at various schools with the majority of those years being in McCamey, Texas. He then became the McCamey Middle School principal for the next fourteen years. He was the Superintendent for McCamey ISD for ten years before his retirement. After retirement, Joe and Mattie returned back to Nubia, then two years ago they moved to Richardson, Texas due to declining health.
He was a member of the Optimist Club, Lions Club and past president of the McCamey Chamber of Commerce. He served on the state board of Texas Community Schools. He served three years on the Board of Directors of the Texas Association of Secondary Schools, six years on the Board of Directors of the West Texas Educators Credit Union and was a past Chairman of Educational Service Center Region 18 for the Superintendents Association. The State Senate of Texas designated a proclamation in recognition of his exemplary work at McCamey ISD.
He served as an elder at Merkel Church of Christ for six years. He taught Bible Classes his whole life and visited church members in their homes and in the hospital. He served at funeral dinners and visited the Merkel Nursing Home regularly serving them communion.
He loved arrowhead hunting, traveling, golf and restoring classic cars. He was an avid reader and a lifelong learner.
Joe is survived by his wife, Mattie; his daughters Prissy Chambers and her husband Jackie of Midland, TX; Tammy Epley and her husband Ted of College Station, TX; Gigi Mason and her husband Mark of Richardson, TX; his grandchildren B.J. and Melisa Chambers, Alex Chambers, David and Amber Bond, Chase Epley and fianceé Nicole Tippit, A.J., Noah and Madi Mason; brothers Jim Neill and wife Joan of Birmingham, AL and Farris Neill and wife Freda of Merkel, TX; sisters Cevene Slater of Midland, TX and Katie Ferraro and husband Harper Creigh of Cypress, TX; a number of nieces and nephews; honorary daughters Ida Furrer of Switzerland, Anke Kempkens of Germany, and Rachael Valfre of Abilene, TX.
Visitation will be Tuesday, June 16, 2015 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Starbuck Funeral Home in Merkel, TX. Funeral services will be Wednesday, June 17, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. at the Merkel Church of Christ. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to Lewy Body Dementia Association, 912 Killian Hill Road, S.W., Lilburn, Georgia 30047 or Pioneers Abilene Early Stage Support Group, Alzheimers Association Office, 301 S. Pioneer, Suite 105, Abilene, Texas 79605.
Source: Starbuck Funeral Home, Merkel, TX
Joe was born to the late T.J. and Una Neill, a farmer and a homemaker respectively in Nubia, TX on October 3, 1940. Growing up in Mulberry Canyon on a dry land farm, he learned the value of hard work and family. He participated in football, basketball, baseball and track in his years at Merkel High School. He was a member of FFA and spent much of his time preparing his livestock for stock shows. He graduated from Merkel High School in 1959.
Joe was blessed with a large and loving family. On May 28, 1959 he married the love of his life, Mattie Lynn Arnold, at her grandparents' farm in Merkel. Joe attended Abilene Christian College and graduated in 1963 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Physical Education. He received his Masters Degree in Terrestrial Ecology from the University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire in 1976.
Joe coached for thirteen years at various schools with the majority of those years being in McCamey, Texas. He then became the McCamey Middle School principal for the next fourteen years. He was the Superintendent for McCamey ISD for ten years before his retirement. After retirement, Joe and Mattie returned back to Nubia, then two years ago they moved to Richardson, Texas due to declining health.
He was a member of the Optimist Club, Lions Club and past president of the McCamey Chamber of Commerce. He served on the state board of Texas Community Schools. He served three years on the Board of Directors of the Texas Association of Secondary Schools, six years on the Board of Directors of the West Texas Educators Credit Union and was a past Chairman of Educational Service Center Region 18 for the Superintendents Association. The State Senate of Texas designated a proclamation in recognition of his exemplary work at McCamey ISD.
He served as an elder at Merkel Church of Christ for six years. He taught Bible Classes his whole life and visited church members in their homes and in the hospital. He served at funeral dinners and visited the Merkel Nursing Home regularly serving them communion.
He loved arrowhead hunting, traveling, golf and restoring classic cars. He was an avid reader and a lifelong learner.
Joe is survived by his wife, Mattie; his daughters Prissy Chambers and her husband Jackie of Midland, TX; Tammy Epley and her husband Ted of College Station, TX; Gigi Mason and her husband Mark of Richardson, TX; his grandchildren B.J. and Melisa Chambers, Alex Chambers, David and Amber Bond, Chase Epley and fianceé Nicole Tippit, A.J., Noah and Madi Mason; brothers Jim Neill and wife Joan of Birmingham, AL and Farris Neill and wife Freda of Merkel, TX; sisters Cevene Slater of Midland, TX and Katie Ferraro and husband Harper Creigh of Cypress, TX; a number of nieces and nephews; honorary daughters Ida Furrer of Switzerland, Anke Kempkens of Germany, and Rachael Valfre of Abilene, TX.
Visitation will be Tuesday, June 16, 2015 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Starbuck Funeral Home in Merkel, TX. Funeral services will be Wednesday, June 17, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. at the Merkel Church of Christ. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to Lewy Body Dementia Association, 912 Killian Hill Road, S.W., Lilburn, Georgia 30047 or Pioneers Abilene Early Stage Support Group, Alzheimers Association Office, 301 S. Pioneer, Suite 105, Abilene, Texas 79605.
Source: Starbuck Funeral Home, Merkel, TX
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