Robert Neal Cantrell

Robert Neal Cantrell, age 63, passed away on Thursday, July 24, 2025, in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Rob was born in Wise, Virginia on November 30, 1961. Rob graduated from Oliver Springs High School in 1979 and later pursued his career in trade school as a welder. Rob attended TAT School at ORNL Union Carbide immediately following graduation and spent 20 years traveling as a pipe welder. Rob was an excellent welder, even better than his big brother, Lee, which was always a joke over the years. Rob spent the remainder of his life living on the wild side, which was the way he chose to live. Rob was a free spirit and always done things "Rob's way", even if that was not necessarily the right way and oftentimes could be a difficult man. He was also a jokester and anyone who was around him was guaranteed to have a good laugh. No matter how much he was, or was not, a part of his immediate family's daily life, Rob was loved and cherished by his family. Rob left the East Tennessee area around 2004 to relocate to Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico where he operated a shrimp boat and lived on an island. Rob would often tell stories of his adventures catching shrimp in the ocean and he found peace living on the island. Rob was diagnosed with advanced stage cancer in multiple areas in July of 2024. After diagnosis, he declined all treatment and chose to live the remainder of his life on his terms, per typical Rob fashion. Rob was a strong and resilient man, often making jokes about using cactus juice to cure his condition. He was preceded in death by his loving parents, Jacqueline Cantrell and Lee Roy Cantrell along with his sister, Susan Ashley. Survivors include his only daughter (his baby girl), Amber Cantrell, his grandson, Jayce Cantrell, and his brother Lee Cantrell Jr. Rob had a special relationship with surviving cousin, Yvonne Furrow, who was also like a sister to him. In addition to his surviving immediate family, Rob is survived by Brother-in-Law, Dewayne Ashley, nephew Joseph Hendrickson, life companion, Jane Nash Petruzzi, close friend, Mario Barbosa, along with a host of extended family members and friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made directly to his grandson's college fund at Enrichment Federal Credit Union or to a local cancer research center of your choice.
College Fund Details:
Pay to the order of Jayce Cantrell
Enrichment Federal Credit Union
201 S Illinois Avenue
Oak Ridge, TN 37830
A special heartfelt message from his daughter, Amber:
The world was not always easy for my dad, but if we could choose our next world based on what we learned in this one, my dad truly learned many lessons. He was my father, flawed and real. Our story was etched with joy and strife, a true tapestry of love, life, and oftentimes pain. Today, I mourn the man he was and all that could have been. In this moment I choose to set aside any hurt or anger. I pray that his soul finds peace and his spirit gains a gentler journey, a lighter way. I release the past and softly pray for understanding, for healing to start. He always told me, "Baby girl, don't be like me, be better than me" and I know he was proud of the woman I have become, even if we didn't always see eye to eye. I challenge every single person reading this that shared memories with my dad to share them with me. If love could have saved him, he would still be here living his life and doing things "Rob's way".