James Edward McNeil, 84 of Portsmouth, died Sunday, May 14, 2023, at his home. He was born January 17, 1939, in West Portsmouth to the late Joseph Kitchen and Pearlia Ann Mershon McNeil. Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother Joseph McNeil, 3 half brothers: Virgil, Eugene and Veral Mault, 2 sisters: Marie Bowling and Rosetta Welch and 2 half sisters, Sylvia Thieken, and Lima Mault.
James was a retired Conductor/Brakeman on the Norfolk and Southern Railroad, he was a United States Army Veteran where he was a rifle marksman. He loved to fish and hunt, but gardening he loved the most.
He is survived by his wife, Connie Lee Salyer McNeil, whom he married on June 7, 1975, 2 stepdaughters: Janie (Gene) Book and Cheryl (Chris Day) Isaac, a sister Mary Roy, a grandson John Isaac Jr. several nieces and nephews along with wonderful neighbors.
Graveside services will be 1:30 PM Thursday, May 18, 2023, at Sunset Memorial Gardens, with Rick Phillips officiating. Graveside military rites will be given by the James Dickey Post 23 American Legion. A visitation will be held on Thursday from 11 to 1:00 PM at the Roger W. Davis Funeral Home in West Portsmouth. Condolences may be sent to www.rogerwdavisfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to St Jude Children’s Research.
