Laurie Patricia Mcneil

Laurie Patricia McNeil, who loved her family, friends and faith, died October 29, 2021 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina of breast cancer. She was 55.

Laurie was born March 14, 1966 in Pontiac, Michigan to James and Patricia Booth. She was raised in Clarkston, Michigan and, later, in Rockwall, Texas. Laurie enjoyed singing while her daddy played the guitar, creating things, and playing outdoors in the nature she loved.

That childhood sense of adventure stayed with her throughout her adult life. Laurie camped in Alaska, hiked in Costa Rica, sailed the Greek Islands, dove into the Red Sea, journeyed across Japan, went on safari in Africa, and loved Paris.

She graduated from the University of North Texas in 1989 with a degree in Business Administration. Laurie worked as a flight attendant for American Airlines, a career that took her across Europe and Latin America and to a life in New York City with her fiance.

On September 3, 1994, she married Eric James McNeil in Garland, Texas. They honeymooned in Egypt, fulfilling her dream of visiting the pyramids and sailing down the Nile. Early in their marriage they lived in Tokyo, and Laurie would commute to New York every third month for work. They often laughed that it had to be the longest commute in the world!

The couple welcomed three children – Colin, who was born in Tokyo, and twin sons Logan and Trevor, who were born after the family moved to Chapel Hill. The McNeils traveled to London, New York, and recently to Switzerland for an adventure with her Boy Scouts. Holidays and family traditions were important to Laurie, who once traveled from Tokyo to Dallas to surprise her mom on Christmas Eve. She loved making people feel special.

She made an impression on others with her beautiful smile, warm personality, and joyous laugh. Laurie had an affinity for both lovely things and excellent organization, and she was known for making the world around her more beautiful and orderly, especially the wonderful home she created for her family.

Above all, Laurie felt that she lived a full and happy life in her 55 years.

Laurie is survived by her husband of 27 years, Eric McNeil, and sons Colin McNeil, Trevor McNeil and Logan McNeil, all of Chapel Hill. She’s also survived by her mother, Patricia Booth, of Rowlett, Texas; sister Amy Crow and her husband, Chris, of Flower Mound, Texas; father-in-law James McNeil of Bellevue, Nebraska; brother-in-law Father Joel McNeil of Dunlap, Iowa; sister-in-law Amy Iwanksi and her husband, John, of Geneva, Illinois; niece Sara Iwanski and nephew Joel Iwanski of Geneva, Illinois; and niece Anna Nolan, and her husband, Steven, of Davenport, Iowa.

A funeral Mass will be held Wednesday, November 10, 2021 at 10 a.m. at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. For those who would like to provide a gift in her memory, donations may be made to the two groups of people who provided wonderful care for Laurie: UNC Cancer Hospital and St. Thomas More Catholic Church. 

Patient and Family Resource Center at the UNC Cancer Hospital https://unchealthfoundation.org/support-unc-lineberger-in-memory-of-laurie-mcneil/

The Catholic Community of St. Thomas More https://stmchapelhill.org/
Turn again to life

If I should die, and leave you here awhile
Be not like others sore undone, who keep
Long vigils by the silent dust and weep.
For my sake, turn again to life, and smile,
Nerving thy heart and trembling hand to do
Something to comfort weaker hearts than thine.
Complete these dear unfinished tasks of mine,
And I, perchance, may therein comfort you!

-Mary Lee Hall