Homer Neill

Homer L. Neill was born November 14, 1921.  He passed away Friday, July 1, 2011. He was born on November 14, 1921 to James Asa Neill and Jeanette Westmorland Neill on a farm 9 miles Northwest of Holdenville, OK.  He attended school at Bethel and graduated from Yeager High School.  After graduating he worked as a carpenter's helper building camps during World War II.  He joined the Air Corps on November 4, 1942 and was trained as a tail gunner on B-17's. He was sent to England where he and his crew made several bombing missions.  They were shot down over Germany and  reported missing on February 22, 1943.  He was taken prisoner and was a prisoner of war for 14 months.  He was released in the fall of 1944 and discharged from the service in April, 1945.  Homer earned the European African Middle Eastern Ribbon, 1 Bronze Star, Air Medal 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, 3 overseas Service Bars and the Good Conduct Medal. On November 14,1945 he married Louise Molleur.  They had 2 children , son Gary Lynn and daughter, Vickie Lou.  Vicki Lou married Rick Strayhorn and they had 2 children, son Cody and daughter, Tori Lee.  Gary Lynn Neill passed away September 15, 1978 and Vicki Lou Neill Strayhorn passed away on April 5, 2002. Louise Molleur Neill passed away June 21, 1999. When Homer returned home from the war he worked for Stafford Motor Co. as a parts man.  He later moved to Albuquerque, NM where he went to work for New York Life Insurance Company in 1952.  He worked for them for 35 years, retiring in 1987.  In July, 2000 he moved to Seminole, OK where he married Mary Virginia Clopton on July 12, 2000. Homer was a member of the Methodist Church all of his life.  When he moved to Seminole he became interested in the Methodist Men's group which met one Saturday a month for breakfast.  When he discovered they only had five men attending the breakfast he started his own telephone campaign to increase the attendance and when he left Seminole they had about twenty men. Funeral Services are scheduled for 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, July 5, 2011 at Swearingen Funeral Home Chapel in Seminole, Oklahoma with Rev. David Kargus and Rev. Gary Wilburn officiating. Serving as Casket Bearers are: Eddie Neill, Ted Neill, Ace Neill, Phil Neill, Leif Nevener and James Bibb. Services are under the direction of Swearingen Funeral Home in Seminole, Oklahoma. Funeral Information: July 5, 2011, 2:00 PM Swearingen Funeral Chapel located at 1001 N. Milt Phillips Ave., Seminole, OK 74868