July 5, 1932 - May 14, 2021
Douglas Neil McNeil passed away May 14, 2021, in the care of the gentle staff at Creekside Landing Home. The family wish to acknowledge physicians, Dr. Jean Flanagan and Dr. Murphy who have been attending to his health issues for years, and to the nurses and aids at Creekside Landing for their assistance with daily care.
These people operate with patience and kindness towards the elderly and their work is honourable and appreciated.
Doug was born in Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan, the youngest of six brothers. He had an adventurous soul joining the Canadian Navy at age 18, living aboard ships until age 21. He then learned the trade of a lithographer, working for various newspapers, and CPAir at the Vancouver airport, where he ran machines producing huge colour posters for the airlines.
Doug eventually bought motels or hotels throughout the province, running them as a family business. Vernon is where he felt most at home, and where he spent his remaining years.
Doug met Joyce McNeil, a young teacher, and they were soon married in Edmonton, Alberta on February 26, 1955.
Doug will be sadly missed by his children; Dan McNeil, Rozanne/Gary Holte, Jill/Randy Bargen, Joan McNeil, Melinda McNeil, Barbara/Dennis Taylor. They also had many grandchildren: Mark, Craig, Jen, Darcy, Christi, Heidi, Amie, Britt and Josh... and 20 great grandchildren!!!
Doug was a talented man, in his younger years he made solid wood furniture, grew huge bountiful gardens, painted art, wrote poetry, fished, hunted, chopped wood and did forestry work. He was a good cook, and all of his kids make his "curried chicken" recipe for their own families.
Doug enjoyed his retirement, he would often be found having a game of pool or playing cards or keno at the Longhorn Pub.
Joyce has many memories of their years together, a lifetime of raising kids without the need for cell phones or computers.... a simpler, home baked life. She will miss her husband, he was a firecracker.