Joseph Charles Neil died of natural causes three weeks shy of his 88th birthday on Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2014, with his family by his side in Ignacio.
He was born October 9, 1926, in Durango and was one of six children to Frank Millard Sr. and Lilly Belle Edwards Neil.
Joe grew up working on the farm with his brother and sisters in Oxford. He left school in the eighth grade to help his father maintain and keep the farm going. He worked for the VCA Mine in his 20s, then later as a truck driver for the La Plata County Road Department. Joe was transferred by the county to Durango and held the position as a mechanic until his retirement, still finding time to juggle work and the farm.
His interests included family, farming, and hunting and fishing. He enjoyed serving The Lord and he touched lives with his smile, kind eyes, and gentle spirit. He was an active church member of First Baptist Church in Ignacio, and committed many of his resources to mission outreach to spread the word of the Lord.
Mr. Neil is survived by his sisters, Marybelle Parks of Bayfield, Nelda Baldasare of Olathe, Kan. and Alta Lunsford of Vancouver, Wash.; a brother, Frank M. Neil Jr. of Ignacio; sons Ron of Riverton, Utah, Stan of Durango, Leonard of Aztec, and Randy, Bruce, Perry, and Ray of Ignacio; daughters Laverne Jensen of Ignacio and Geraldine Morris of Longmont; step-daughter Bridget Howard of Spirit Lake, Idaho; and their spouses, 32 grandchildren, 50 great-grandchildren, five great-great-grandchildren, and numerous step-grandchildren.
Mr. Neil was preceded in death by Ethel Irene Wagner Neil, his first wife of 38 years, and Leahbelle Strain Neil, his second wife of 26 years. He also was preceded in death by a sister, Pauline.
The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Monday, Sept. 22, 2014 at Pine River Valley Baptist Church in Ignacio. Burial will follow in Crestview Cemetery next to wife Ethel.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to First Baptist Church of Ignacio or Master Plan Ministries, P.O. Box 1082, Durango, CO, 81302.
