John S. Neil, Sr., 74, died June 22, 2008 at Christus Hospital St. Elizabeth. He was born September 20, 1933 in Kansas City, Missouri to Jack and Jessie Neil. At the age of 2, the family moved to Beaumont where he spent the rest of his life. He graduated from Beaumont High School in 1951, attended two years of college and worked at Sun Oil Company until he was drafted into the Army during the Korean War. Upon his return, he married Mary Jo Robichau and went into business with his father at KTRM Radio.
John was a past member of the Downtown Rotary Club, YMBL, and various other civic organizations. When the family business was sold, he went into the advertising business. In 1981, he started his own agency, John Neil Advertising, from which he retired in 2004. He loved having thirty years at Crystal Beach. After retiring, he sold the beach house and he and Mary Jo loved visiting cousins in Sanibel, Florida. The last year and a half of his life, he loved and found peace and contentment at “the farm”. He fought hard trying to beat prostate cancer, but in the end, he lost his battle.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Jack and Jessie Neil. He is survived by his wife of fifty years, Mary Jo Neil; sons, John, Jr. and wife Angie of Beaumont and Mike and wife Elva of Denver, Colorado; daughter, Becky and husband David Dickens of Fannett; grandchildren, Jack Neil, Jennifer Neil, John “Trey” Neil III, and Jami Davis all of Beaumont, Shawna Sandoval of Cathedral City, California, Lori Ann Barry of Lowell, Massachusettes, and Crystal Dickens of San Diego, California; great-grandson, Lucas Sandoval of Cathedral City, California; brothers, Bill Neil and wife Susan of San Angelo and Frank Neil of Houston; sister, Marilyn Love of Fort Worth; sister-in-law, Edna Robichau of Lufkin; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A gathering of family and friends will be Wednesday, June 25, 2008, beginning at 5:00 p.m. with a rosary recited at 7:00 p.m. at Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin, Beaumont. Funeral service will be 10:00 a.m., Thursday, June 26, 2008 at Broussard’s, with burial to follow at Magnolia Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers are Mike Martin, Ed Cain, Steve Perricone, Tommy LeBlanc, Richard Smith, Albert Williamson, and Donny Warner. Honorary pallbearers are Art Roane, James Roane, Steve Roane, and Matt Williams.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 5144, Beaumont, Texas 77726.
