Roy W. McNeese, of Kirkville, closed his eyes in peaceful sleep at the age of 92 on March 17, 2026 at Serentiy Hospice House in Oskaloosa.
The first child of Roy McNeese Sr. and Mattie Francis Sutton McNeese, Roy was born on a hot Friday afternoon on June 23, 1933.
Roy started his working career at the age of 10 milking cows for Minnie Lee. She needed the milk to feed the Pekinese dogs she bred and raised and his pay was a Pekinese puppy he could call his own. Chores finished, he joined his siblings and the neighbor children for the mile-walk to Dahlonega School. He continued with his schooling at Jefferson, Douglas, Agazzi and Stuart Elementary Schools and graduated from 8th grade at Christianburg. A mandatory test had to be taken at Washington Jr. High in Ottumwa to receive an 8th grade diploma. Determined to get that diploma, he hitchhiked to Ottumwa, took the test and passed with ease; an accomplishment he was immensely proud of. His second job was at McElroy Gardens east of Ottumwa where he earned $1 after school and $2 on Saturdays with lunch. All of his spare time was spent at the numerous garages in Ottumwa, including Bullicks. Picking up that wrench gave him the knowledge to become an expertise in the mechanical and maintenance field. Payday would find him purchasing another Model-A and he would trick his friends into filling the gas tank at 10 or 15 cents per gallon so they could “scoop the town” and visit the local skating rink, where he would eventually meet his future wife.
Roy also worked at John Morrell & Co., Eddyville Rock Quarry and was employed at Wymore and Bean Ford in Eddyville before enlisting in the U.S. Army in January, 1952. His tour of duty took him to Korea where he drove tanks to the front lines as a retriever. Roy returned to the states in January, 1954 as Staff Sargeant with an honorable discharge.
Rekindling with the love of his life, Arletta Joanne Barnett, the two were married at the Eddyville Methodist Church June 20, 1954 and God blessed them with 4 children, Randall Wayne in 1955, William Neal in 1956, Bradley Scott in 1964 and JoDeena Kaye in 1966. Roy taught his children the importance of truth, honesty and respect and most of all, how to love your neighbor, as you do not know the burden they may be carrying.
While raising his children, Roy worked at Block Heating, Oskaloosa Brick Yard, Sears as service manager, Jahnke Carburetor and Electric, Crescent Motors, was a custodian at Eddyville Public Schools, Den Hartog Meats, and owned and operated his own business, Roy’s Haven in Eddyville. He retired from Ottumwa Housing Authority as the maintenance man for Camelot Towers in December, 1992 at the age of 59 ½. Early retirement gave him the opportunity to spend much needed time with his children. Roy then worked 2 days per week at Eddyville Hardware for 15 years, enjoying the friendship of the customers. Roy was the gentleman that would give his last dollar to a fellow in need or save the last piece of pie for those he loved.
Missing his smile and the occasional joke he loved to share, will be his wife of 72 years, Joanne; his sons, Randall “Randy” (Diane) McNeese and William “Willie’ McNeese; his daughter, JoDeena “Jodi” (Brad) Vance; 5 grandchildren, Heather, Bradley, Jeremy, Ami and Christopher; 2 bonus grandchildren, Angie and Kelsey; several great-grandchildren; 2 sisters, Patty James of Avery and Erma Kosmach of Marion; several nieces and nephews; and many other family members and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Bradley Scott McNeese in 1982; grandson, Damien Michael McNeese in 1978; 2 brothers, Donald DeWayne McNeese in 1994 and Albert Benjamin McNeese in 1996; and half-siblings, Ruby Fern McNeese Silvers, William Russell McNeese and Dolores Luellyn McNeese Long.
Visitation will be open at 11 a.m. Thursday, March 19th at Reece Funeral Home with the family present to greet friends from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday.
Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Friday, March 20th at Reece Funeral Home with Pastor Phil Morrison and Pastor Rod Stodghill officiating. Burial will be in Highland Cemetery with military honors conducted by Walter B. Schafer Post #775 Veterans of Foreign Wars and O.B. Nelson Post #3 American Legion.
Memorials may be made to Disabled American Veterans.
