Terry Neal Obituary

Obituary

Mr. Terry Gene Neal, age 84, of Rickman, TN, passed away on September 16, 2025, at the V.A. Hospital in Murfreesboro, TN.

Terry was born on September 2, 1941, in Holly Springs to Clyde Spencer Neal and Della D. Allred Neal, one of twelve children.

A proud veteran, Terry served his country honorably in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. Military honors will be provided by the Overton County Veterans Honor Guard.

Terry was a lover of the outdoors and found joy in gardening, walking in the woods, and spending quiet time in nature. He was also an avid reader and could often be found enjoying time at the Millard Oakley Public Library in Livingston.

He is survived by his son, Jason Neal, and wife Holly of Kathleen, GA; grandchildren Nathan Neal, Jacob Neal and wife Lauren, and Roger Neal; and sisters Judy Boles, Mary Ann Lawson, and Betty Sue Ledbetter.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his beloved wife, Sue Taylor Neal; precious son, Allen Neal; sister Colleen Culver; and brothers Robert, Lois, John, Willie, Billy, Dickie, and Carl Douglas Neal.

Honoring Terry’s Life

Today we gather to remember & honor the life of Terry Gene Neal

I know he was dearly loved by his family and friends

As death always does…

His passing leaves an empty place…

And it’s right for us to pause, grieve, and honor his life

He was one of 12 children

I have 2 little girls (5 & 3)…

And my house is filled with laughter, chaos, & so much love

I can’t imagine what living with 12 children must be like

But, because children are wonderful…

I’m going to assume it must have been wonderful

Family is so important

And when it comes to a loving family…

The more really is the merrier

I’m sure Terry knew that as much as anyone

He proudly served his country in Vietnam

I admire people who have the courage…

To risk & sacrifice their lives for the safety & freedom of others

And I’m grateful that we have men like Terry…

Who devote their lives to such causes

One way I can definitely relate to Terry…

Is his love of the outdoors

He found joy in the quiet places:

In the soil of a garden

In the stillness of the forest

In the beauty of God’s creation

Those are the kinds of loves that point us back to our Creator

The One who first planted a garden & walked with humanity there

There’s hardly anything more peaceful & life-giving…

Than quietly enjoying God’s world

Another way I relate to Terry…

Is in his love of reading

He loved to learn, grow, & reflect

He enjoyed expanding his brain with stories & knowledge

These pieces of his story remind us…

That Terry was a man who found joy in the simple, meaningful things in life

I didn’t know Terry very well

I once visited him in his home a few years ago

He was very kind & hospitable

But even then, the dementia was obvious

He began talking about his wife, as if she were still living

One of the hardest things about dementia…

Is not only what it does to the person who suffers from it…

But what it does to the people who love them

In many illnesses, the one who is sick bears the heaviest burden

But with dementia, often the family carries a deeper pain:

Watching someone they love slowly slip away…

Even while they are still here

It’s been said that dementia is a disease of ‘long goodbyes.’

And yet, even in those long and difficult years…

Love remains

The love shown to Terry, and the love he once shared…

Is not lost

It is carried on in the hearts/minds of his family and friends

Poem From Judy

We Hate Coming to Funerals Because We Hate Death

Loss of Life is Something that God Never Wanted for Humanity

The Scriptures Call Death an Enemy of God

But, Even Though Death is an Enemy of God that He’ll One Day Destroy…

Death is an Important Thing for Us to Think About

Ecclesiastes 7:2–4 (NLT)

2 Better to spend your time at funerals than at parties. After all, everyone dies— so the living should take this to heart. 3 Sorrow is better than laughter, for sadness has a refining influence on us. 4 A wise person thinks a lot about death, while a fool thinks only about having a good time.

Even Though We Don’t Like it…

Going to Funerals…

Experiencing Death…

And Thinking about Death…

Is Good for Us

It Reminds Us that this Life isn’t Going to Last Forever

There’s Nothing Wrong with Enjoying the Blessings of Life…

But We Need to Remember that it’s Coming to an End

And Then What?

Will We have Prepared Ourselves for What Comes Next?

Hebrews 9:27 (NLT)

27 And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment,

A Very Unfortunate Fact of Life…

Is that We’re All Destined to Die

We’ve All Got an Appointment with Death that We have to Keep

And Then After that Comes Judgment

We’ll Be Either Rescued From or Destroyed By God’s Judgment

We Need to Be Reminded of that

But There’s More to the Story:

Hebrews 9:27–28 (NLT)

27 And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, 28 so also Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.

Jesus, Through His Death & Resurrection…

Offers All People the Way Out of Death & Destruction

For Those that Give Their Lives to Him…

Resurrection to Eternal Life is Promised

His People, Christians, aren’t Afraid of Death

We Don’t Love Death By Any Means

But We aren’t Afraid of it Because We Know it’ll Be Temporary

We are Eagerly Waiting for Jesus to Come Back…

Because When He Does…

He’s Going to Resurrect All of His People…

To a Never-Ending Life of Joy, Hope, & Peace.

Prayer

“Father, we thank You for the life of Terry. We thank You for the memories his family will carry forward. We ask You to comfort them, to give them peace, and to hold them close in their grief. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”