Jerry McNeil

Jerry Ivan McNeil passed away on June 20, 2023 at the age of 96. Jerry was born June 23, 1926 in Cushing, Oklahoma to Clarence and Melba McNeil. The family moved to Taft, Texas where Jerry attended school and was an avid athlete playing football, basketball and baseball for Taft High School. After graduating from high school, he followed in his brother’s footsteps by enlisting in the U.S. Army Air Corps. One of Jerry’s most treasured accomplishments was earning his pilot’s wings. World War II ended before Jerry was deployed overseas and he was honorably discharged from the service. While continuing his education at Del Mar College in Corpus Christi, Texas Jerry met and married the love of his life, Marion English, on November 4, 1947. Jerry and Marion were married for 59 years prior to her death in 2007 and had one daughter, Melody, and one son, Jerry, Jr.

As a draftsman for Sinclair Oil and later ARCO, Jerry was part of the development team that designed and constructed large parts of the Trans-Alaska pipeline system. Jerry eventually became a corrosion prevention engineer for ARCO and was responsible for ensuring the monitoring and corrosion protection for a large portion of the ARCO pipeline system. Relocation for work involved moving from Corpus Christi, TX to Lafayette, LA., Richardson, TX., Refugio, TX., and Midland, TX. Upon retirement from ARCO Jerry and Marion moved to Panorama Village, TX to enjoy a life of golf and fishing: his two favorite activities.

Jerry was always actively involved in his community and church. He was a Scoutmaster, youth league football and baseball coach, a Deacon and Elder in the Presbyterian Church, a Wheels on Meals volunteer, and a member of various civic organizations. Jerry was always ready to party with friends and family and “never met a stranger”. As a husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, uncle, friend he was a living example of what unconditional love is.

Jerry was preceded in death by: his wife, Marion McNeil; his parents, Clarence and Melba McNeil; his brother, Larry McNeil; his sisters-in-law, Pat McNeil, Millie English and Connie English. Jerry is survived by his daughter, Melody Tarrillion (Tim); his son, Jerry McNeil, Jr. (Ruth); grandchildren, Jay McNeil (Jaimie), Marion Graviss (Jeff), Margot Tarrillion (Jordan), Madeline Tarrillion (Francis), Joanna Van Engel (Curtis); great grandchildren, Connor McNeil, Cooper Graviss, Mason Graviss, Henrietta Van Engel, Joseph Van Engel, Alaina Samuelson, Tyler Samuelson, Ethan Swanson, Audrey Swanson, Eli Swanson; Brother-in-law, Jack English, nieces, nephews and friends.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, June 28, 2023 from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. at Cashner Funeral Home with funeral services set to begin at 2:00 p.m. Burial will follow in Garden Park Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Jerry’s name to First Presbyterian Church of Conroe, 2727 N. Loop 336 W, Conroe, TX.