Steve Mcneil

Stephen Lynn McNeil (Steve) succumbed to his battle with lung cancer and emphysema early Sunday morning, May 11, 2014. Steve always faced each day with a smile and filled the lives around him with laughter with his "Steve-isms". Even in his battle with cancer, he never lost his sense of humor.
He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Catherine (Kathy) Byboth McNeil; his sons David McNeil and wife Tina of Plano, TX, Kevin McNeil and partner Josh Titus, of Chicago, IL; Kyle McNeil of San Jose, CA; and daughter Katrina (Katy) McNeil of Oklahoma City, OK. His mother, Charlotte McNeil, of Lovington, NM; brother George R. (Randy) McNeil and wife Debbie, of Longview, TX; sister Terri Romine and husband Kenny Romine, and numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his twin, Stanley Glynn McNeil and father George H. McNeil.
Steve was born in Odessa, TX, in 1951, the second of twin boys, to Charlotte and George McNeil. His earliest years were spent at the oil camps surrounding Buckeye, NM. When he was 4, the family moved to Lovington, NM, where he lived the rest of his growing up years. He was active there in DeMolays in his church, sports, music and school. He played baseball well enough to be offered a spot on the Kansas City farm team. He could play 7 instruments. He played brass in his high school band and also played drums for a western band that played the local venues. In college he began his love of guitars. One of his prized possessions was a lady' guitar, built in our basement in Germany by his friend Klaus.
He graduated in 1969 from Lovington High School. In 1974 he received his BA in Mathematics and an emphasis on Computer Science from New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, NM. He liked to say he was a "sand aggie."
He moved to the Dallas area upon graduation when he took a job with E-Systems in Garland. There he met his future father-in-law. When his project was canceled in 1976, he found a job at Rockwell in Richardson working on computer switching systems. Later that year, the family moved to Münster, West Germany, where Rockwell sent him to install a funds transfer system for the Deutsche Bank. He returned in 1983. He began working at DSC (later bought by Alcatel, and now Alcatel-Lucent) in 1984 where he stayed until he retired on disability in 2013. Here he began his career in the telecom field. He was well respected for his system troubleshooting skills and his ability to remember code and the details of fixes that had worked (or not worked) no matter how many years in the past. His job took him to Japan and Hong Kong, Ireland and Brazil, Chicago and North Carolina, where he traveled to teach troubleshooting and maintenance techniques for cell phone switching systems. He worked closely for years with the Motorola groups in Chicago and Cork, Ireland.
He married the love of his life, Kathy, on November 27, 1976. In their 37 years together, they always faced good times and bad with liberal doses of humor. In 1981 David was born in Garland, TX, then Kevin in 1983 when the family was living in Germany. Kyle followed in 1986 and his Katy in 1989. Family was at the center of his life. While the kids were young he was always involved in their schools and activities and everyone that got close to him, regardless of relation, became part of his family.
He was always active in his community. When his sons were young he was very active in the Cub Scouts serving as a den leader and on the troop committee and made numerous Order of the Arrow plaques for all the Webelos. He was a founding member of his children's elementary school's Dads Club. He coached soccer and baseball. He umpired Girls' Softball with PSA for 12 years with his son Kyle. They became known as the father-son team and was called the Sandal Man' as he always umpired in his Birkenstocks. He also was a member of AA. Sober for 24 years; he attended meetings every Friday night, learning to take thing One Day at a Time.' After his family won 2 free cars at the St Elizabeth Ann Seton Men's Club Raffle, he also became a very involved member of the Men's Club at the church. He loved to deal Blackjack and spearheaded the Silent Auction for several years at their annual Casino Night. He was an avid sports fan and loved to watch the Stars, Mavericks, Cowboys, and especially his beloved Rangers. One of the highlights of his life was getting to see them play in person at back-to-back World Series. Almost every weekend you could find him on the golf course.
He was very devoted to education. Served as a judge at numerous Science Fairs and speaking at Career Days. He instilled a joy of learning in his children and sent each of his four children to college where each earning their bachelors' degrees or higher. He attended each graduation with his trademarked smile beaming on his face, deservedly proud of his children's accomplishments.
He was a very giving person both in his time and compassion; he would give the shirt off his back to help a friend in need. More than once he opened his home to someone in need of refuge, sometimes for a weekend, or a few months if needed. His easy going nature drew those he met and his true interest in those around him earned him many friends. He will be deeply missed by many.
Please join us for a celebration of his life. The family will receive friends on Thursday, May 15, 2014, starting with a brief vigil service at 7:00 p.m. followed by visitation until 9:00 p.m. at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, 2700 W. Spring Creek Pkwy. Plano, TX 75023. The Funeral Mass of resurrection will be celebrated on Friday, May 16th at 10:00 a.m. at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton with burial in the Seton Columbarium with Fr. Bruce Bradley presiding. There will be a reception in the Parish Hall following the service.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made in his memory to the Seton Men's Club Scholarship Fund, at the same address, or to Scottish Rite Children's Hospital in Dallas 214-559-7650 or 800-421-1121 x7650 http://community.tsrhc.org.