Joseph Neil

Joseph Charles Neil passed away peacefully of natural causes three weeks shy of his 88th birthday and went to be with The Lord, Tuesday, September 16, 2014, with his family by his side in Ignacio, Colorado. He was born October 9, 1926, in Durango, Colorado 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, Co. He left school in the 8th grade to help his father maintain and keep the farm going. He worked for the VCA Mine in his 20's, 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. But most of all, Joe found The Lord at a young age and devoted much of his time as a caregiver to many. He will forever be remembered ministering to everyone as it was important to Joe to make sure they knew The Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior and wanted everyone to join him in Heaven. Joe would give his shirt off his back. 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, Ignacio, and committed many of his resources to mission outreach to spread the word of The Lord. Mr. Neil is survived by sisters, Marybelle Parks of Bayfield, CO; Nelda Baldasare of Olathe, Kansas; Alta Lunsford of Vancouver, WA; brother, Frank M. Neil Jr. of Ignacio, CO; sons Ron of Riverton, Utah; Stan of Durango, CO; Randy of Ignacio, CO; Leonard of Aztec, NM; Bruce, Perry, and Ray of Ignacio, CO; daughters Laverne Jensen of Ignacio, CO; Geraldine Morris of Longmont, CO; step-daughter Bridget Howard of Spirit Lake, ID; their spouses; 32 grandchildren, 50 great-grandchildren, 5 great-great-grandchildren, and numerous step grandchildren, step great-grandchildren and step great-great-grandchildren. Mr. Neil is preceded in death by his parents, sister Pauline Redman, Ethel Irene Wagner Neil, his first wife of 38 years, and Leahbelle Strain Neil, his second wife of 26 years. The funeral will be at Pine River Valley Baptist Church in Ignacio, CO at 10 a.m., Monday, September, 22. 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. John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.