David Herschel McNeel

David Herschel McNeel went to be with the Lord on February 23, 2014 at Pt. Lookout Nursing & Rehab in Hollister, Missouri. Memorial services will be Wednesday, February 26 at 11:00 A.M. in the Branson United Methodist Church with Pastor Stacey Williams officiating. Funerals services will be at 11:00a.m. on Friday, February 28, 2014 at the Ralph O. Jones Funeral Home, 306 S. Second St., Odessa, MO, 64076, 816-633-5524, with Reverend Ross Fulton officiating. Visitation will be from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Thursday, February 27, 2014 at the Ralph O. Jones Funeral Home. Burial will be in McKendree Cemetery in Odessa. Memorials may be made to McKendree Cemetery Fund, c/o Wayne McNeel, 426 James Circle, Odessa, MO 64076. Condolences for the family may be left at www.ralphojones.com or on our Facebook page. David was born to T. T. & Edna (Dyer) McNeel on July 13, 1929 in Odessa, Missouri. In 1947 he graduated from Odessa High School. He went on to the University of Missouri, Columbia and with one semester left, was drafted into the United States Army. He served as 1st Lieutenant (Battery and Artillery) in the Korean War from 1951 to 1958. After the war, David went back and completed his Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Missouri. David was a cattle buyer for Swift & Company packing houses and others. After his retirement, he sold insurance and was an investment advisor with Ozark National Life and later NIS Investment. David was preceded in death by his parents, wives, Betty (Gebert) McNeel and Josephine (Alexander) McNeel; one brother, three sisters, and three step-sons, Jerry, James and Johnny Wood. David is survived by his wife, Shirley Armstrong-McNeel of Branson, his children, John & Betty McNeel of Liberal, KS, Lynn & Ron Knodel of Grand Island, NE, David & Denise McNeel of Grand Island, NE, Donna & David Schroeter of Newman Grove, NE, Darlene & Shane Higgins of Grand Island, NE, Douglas & Robin McNeel of Houston, TX, Sara & Larry DeLawder of Branson, step-daughter, Vicki & Dale Phillips of Hastings, NE, grandchildren, Heather (Eddie) Jones, Amy (Keith) Bridenstine, Cody (Justine) Knodel, Kendra (Colt) Burkhardt, MacKenzie McNeel, Michaela Voelker, Chet (Luiza) Schroeter, Rachel Schroeter, Grady (Cara) Higgins, Michael (Jennifer) Higgins, Bethany (Matthew) Higgins, William (Heather) McNeel, Crystal (Cody) Deveau, Douglas Jr. (Karissa) McNeel, Christopher McNeel, Hannah & Faith DeLawder, DeDe (Jerry) Roberts, Zach & Brie Phillips, Amy Harp and Trisha Thies and 18 great grandchildren.