Richard McNeill

Richard Evelyn McNeill was born on December 30,1951, to Kenneth Reed McNeill and Evelyn Smyth McNeill in Grants, New Mexico. Richard was raised in Bluewater Village, New Mexico on the McNeill family homestead.

As a child he went on outdoor camping adventures with his dog, Walter, and bottle-fed quarter horse, Cheyenne. On graduating from Grants High School, he attended Snow College and played football. During his early adulthood, Richard made and sold jewelry through silver-smithing and lapidary work.

While living in Tucson, he met the blond songbird Lisa, and he was captivated. They were married in the Mesa Arizona Temple on June 6, 1975, and raised their family in the Grants, New Mexico area. Richard had a career in the mining industry as an electrician and maintenance planner. In addition to providing, he was an avid volunteer scouter with the Boy Scouts of America program-earning the prestigious Silver Beaver Award through the Great Southwest Council. His efforts included treks at Philmont with his boys, leading the local Woodbadge training program, participating in the Order of the Arrow program, leading the Junior Leader Training Camp (JLTC), and Troop 244 committee chair for years.

Richard valued church service as a Grants Stake mission leader, diligent home teacher, young men's advisor, Stake Presidency counselor, and Bluewater Ward Bishop. Lisa and Richard also served as service missionaries in Pueblo Pintado. He had a knack for helping people feel safe and being an accepting friend. Richard was a deeply invested father to his six children and cherished his extended family, visiting various cousins, aunts, and uncles on every family trip. Richard gave people the benefit of the doubt, was playful and dependable, and worked hard to provide for his family.

During his golden years, Richard moved with Lisa to Thatcher, Arizona to be closer to Lisa's family. Luckily, he was closer to several of his sons and their families. Here he enjoyed his role as Lito (name for Grandpa), and best friend and companion to his wife.

Richard is survived by: his spouse, Lisa Bryant McNeill; her children, Winslow James McNeill (Melissa), Bryant Rand McNeill (Audrey), Clifton Reed McNeill (Tanya), Evelyn Hornbarger (Ian), John Thomas McNeill (Mandy), Richard George McNeill; and thirty-one cherished grandchildren.

Richard is preceded in death by: his parents, Evelyn and Kenneth McNeill; siblings, Mary McNeill, Beth Bartel, Donald McNeill, Jane Mayfield, and Kenneth McNeill; and his grandbaby, Bryant Rand McNeill.

After several years of declining health, Richard passed away at home in Thatcher, Arizona on August 20, 2025, at the age of 73.

Funeral services for Richard will be conducted Saturday, August 30, 2025, at 10:30 a.m., at the Thatcher Stake Center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Bishop Ty Allen of the Thatcher Sixth Ward. Concluding services will follow in the Thatcher Cemetery.

Family will receive friends Saturday morning, August 30, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. until 10:15 a.m., in the Relief Society room in the Thatcher Stake Center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.