Donald R. McNeil

McNEIL,
Donald R.

Donald "Mac" Robert McNeil, a lifetime resident of Bossburg, WA passed away on Wednesday, January 26, 2011 in Colville at the age of 89. He was born on August 12, 1921 the son of John and Marie (Powell) McNeil at the family home on Kelly Hill near Bossburg, WA.
Don attended grade school at the Bossburg Schoolhouse. His commute to and from school was often adventurous and even included navigating a boat across the river to get to his destination. Don attended high school in Marcus, WA and on January 7, 1942, married his high school sweetheart, Florence Carroll. Don was later drafted into the U.S. Army Air Corps. He served as a tail-gunner on the B-24 Bomber and flew over fifty-one missions during WWII. Following his honorable discharge, Don returned to Bossburg and worked at several local mines as a powder monkey and cap driller. He also worked in Spokane, WA at Pacific Northwest Alloys for three years before he began a 28 year career, beside his son, Dan, at the Boise Plywood Plant in Kettle Falls, WA. The last ten years at Boise followed a brief retirement and return to the mill as a quality control inspector under the employment of Pittsburgh Testing Laboratories. Don's "second" retirement brought him home to care for his wife, Florence.
Don enjoyed bowling and was on the Northwest Alloys bowling league that bowled at the Diamond Bowling Alley in Spokane, WA. He was an amazing woodworker and often gave his woodwork as gifts to family and friends. From the 1940's to 60's, he spent many hours searching for relics in the Bossburg area. Don was also an excellent hunter whose marksmanship provided many venison meals for his family. He had an incredible knowledge of how things worked and there was nothing he could not fix, fabricate or figure out. His dream of visiting Mt. Saint Helens, Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse were recently accomplished with the loving assistance of his family. Don was known affectionately by many names including, Mac, Papa Donald, McNeil, Dad, Grandpa, etc. He was an amazing man with a kind heart who will be dearly missed.
Don was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Florence and his sister, Lula Byrd.
He is survived by two daughters, Janet O'Leary and husband, Jim, Evans, WA, Joanne Lindquist and husband, James, Kettle Falls, WA; two sons, Dan McNeil and wife, Frankie, Chewelah, WA, Johnny McNeil and wife, Kitty, Marcus, WA, brother, Norman McNeil, Yakima, WA; sister, Ethel Saxton, Phoenix, AZ, 10 grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.
A memorial gathering will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., with a luncheon at noon on Saturday, February 5, 2011 at the Marcus City Hall. Please visit the on-line memorial and sign the guestbook at www.danekasfuneralchapel.com. Danekas Funeral Chapel and Crematory has been entrusted with the arrangements.