Ronald L. Neill, age 76, of McKinney, Texas, passed away January 14, 2013, in Allen, Texas. Mr. Neill was born in Tyler, Texas, to Leroy and Catherine (Buckingham) Neill on December 30, 1936. He attended the public schools of Tyler and graduated from Tyler High School before enrolling at Stephen F. Austin State University where he earned a bachelor degree in 1960. Mr. Neill also played varsity football as a fullback, then halfback, for the SFA Lumberjacks. He then entered The University of Texas School of Law, completing a Juris Doctor degree in 1963.
On December 28, 1959, Ronald (Ronnie) Neill and Sylvia Ann Stotts were married in Pittsburg, Texas. They have one daughter, Heather Neill and one son, Blake Neill. After receiving his law degree, Mr. Neill joined a Dallas law firm and practiced there for five years. In 1963, he joined Mobil Oil Corporation in the United States Marketing and Refining division , first in Dallas (1963-1973), then in Illinois (1973-1978) and finally in New York City (1979-1981). In 1981, Mr. Neill moved to the Office of General Counsel for Mobil Oil, Mobil South Division in New York City. He became Chief Legal Counsel of Mobil Chemical Company in Connecticut and later in Fairfax, Virginia. He retired from Exxon Mobil in 1994.
Mr. Neill was awarded the All-Time Letterman (1957-59) by the Stephen F. Austin State University Letterman’s Association and the Distinguished Alumni (1977) by the Stephen F. Austin State University Alumni Association.
Mr. Neill and his wife served a mission for their church in Tonga, South Pacific for 18 months in 2000.
He is survived by his wife, Sylvia Neill of McKinney, Texas; daughter, Heather Moore and husband, Donnie of Salisbury, Maryland; son, Blake Neill of McKinney, Texas; grandchildren, Shelby Moore and Madison Moore; numerous nephews, nieces, great-nephews, and great-nieces; and he will also be mourned by a host of friends, family members, and church members.
He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Dr. Sherroll Neill.
A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, January 19, 2013, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 2801 Eldorado Pkwy., McKinney, Texas, 75070. Graveside services will take place at 4:00 p.m., Saturday, January 19, 2013, at Tyler Memorial Funeral Home and Cemetery in Tyler, Texas. The family will receive friends during a visitation from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m., Friday evening at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home in Allen, Texas.
Memorial donations may be made to SFA Alumni Association, c/o The Ron & Sylvia Neill Scholarship, P. O. Box 6096, SFA Station, Nacogdoches, Texas, 75962.