Dr. James L. McNeil (Doc) began the new year by entering the gates of Heaven. “Because of his unwavering integrity and the quiet strength of his faith, he became a guiding light to those around him.”  

A godly man who walks the talk, always living his life with purpose. Leaving this earth at the age of 102, he lived every minute of it.

He never complained and was always game to go. He was swimming with stingrays at the age of 97. He walked a mile every day up until Thanksgiving of this year and sang in the church Cantata at 102. He played his last game of golf with my daughter’s new husband. He loved train travel and loved people.

He was born in Bloomington, Kansas, to E.W. McNeil and Mona H. Currie as the only boy among three sisters, two of whom are still living.

He graduated from Washington School of Medicine in St. Louis and completed his internship at what is now Baylor Medical, where he met his wife, BJ, in 1948. They were married for nearly 70 years and raised three daughters: Mona Jeanne McNeil, Joann Hansen, and Judy McNeilsmith, who, along with his seven grandchildren and eight grand-grandchildren, will remember him with love.

His life was like a living history book. He examined Eisenhower before he announced his presidency. He served in WWII and the Korean War. He was General Ridgeway’s private physician on paper because he wanted a pediatrician for his son, Mattie.

He lived with passion, purpose, and principles. He will be missed.

Memorial service will be held Saturday, January 17th, 2026, at the Cloudcroft Methodist Church at 11:00 AM.

The McNeil family has entrusted their loved one to the care of PCS Direct Cremation Service for direct cremation.