Raymond "Bunny" Mcneal

Raymond Louis “Bunny” McNeal passed away at home on March 23, 2018.  He was born in the little town of Seville, Georgia on December 2, 1920 to A.T. and Lucy McNeal.  They moved to the Oxford area in South Marion County where his daddy raised truck crops to support the family.  When he was 2, they moved to Ocala.

He graduated from Ocala High School where he was an outstanding athlete.  He lettered in track, baseball, basketball, and football for three years.  His senior year, while playing quarterback, he led the Wildcats to 10 wins out of 11 games.  After graduation, he played softball for the Marion Motors Dodgers who won the state championship and traveled to Detroit to play in the national tournament.  They were beaten in the quarter finals.

He was recruited by several colleges, but in the end decided to enroll at the University of Florida where he received a four-year scholarship.  He played running back and lettered two years before being drafted into the U.S. Army.  During that time, he met and fell in love with Helen McKinney who was attending vocational school at Camp Roosevelt in Ocala.  She was working for the housing administration in Washington, D.C. when he asked her to come home and marry him.  She accepted.  They were married by Judge D.R. Smith on October 11, 1942 after Raymond played his last football game for the Gators.  They were married 71 years at the time of her death in 2013.

Raymond was drafted into the U.S. Army infantry in 1942, but he qualified for transfer to the Air Corp beginning in 1944 where he served as a Bombardier-Navigator on a B-25 aircraft.  He flew 30 missions over Italy.  He received the Soldier’s Medal for heroism and the Air Medal for meritorious achievement.  He was honorably discharged on October 23, 1945.  It was a sad time for the family.  Their first son, Edward Louis “Little Bunny” McNeal, died in March, 1945 while Raymond was stationed in Corsica near the coast of Italy.

After WWII, Raymond returned to Ocala where he was employed by Standard Parts Company until 1972 when he opened Bi-Lo Auto Parts, Inc. and later Bi-Lo Sales & Service, Inc.  He sold his interest in 1987 and continued in business with his son, Herb McNeal, at Big Truck Parts, Inc.

One of his greatest accomplishments was overseeing the building of Booster Stadium.  Several people tried to build a new stadium for Ocala High School and failed.  Horace Badger, Stadium Authority Chairman, and Raymond, the Vice-Chairman convinced A.M. Collins of Ocala Ice and Manufacturing Company to donate the land and work began.  The stadium was built by the Ocala Wildcats Booster Club and dedicated on September 19, 1969.

Raymond was a charter member of the Ocala Quarterback Club and a loyal Gator fan.  He loved all sports, especially college football, baseball, basketball, and ladies softball.  He got too old to hunt, but he never got too old to fish.

In 1987, he joined Marion County Master Gardener program.  Raymond was born with a talent for gardening.  He always had a garden at home and for a time behind Big-Truck Parts on North Magnolia.  He enjoyed the process of preparing the soil, adding compost and fertilizer, and watching the crops grow and then sharing the bounty with family and friends.  He especially loved teaching others about gardening and answering questions at the plant clinics and more often, at home.  In 2012, he was award the Lifetime Achievement Award for his tireless contributions to the Master Gardeners’ program.  He was still volunteering at the plant clinic when he became ill in July of last year.  He was never able to come back, but he still answered questions and directed the planting and harvesting of his garden from his easy chair.  In 2017 he was recognized for 30 years of service and the plant clinic was named after him in his honor.

Raymond and Helen had four children after Little Bunny.  Their youngest son, Doyle Keith McNeal, died March 4, 2014.  Raymond is survived by three children, Raymond T. McNeal (Marilyn), Susan L. Tittle, and Herbert R. McNeal, all living in Ocala.  He is also survived by grandchildren, Raymond J. McNeal (Rhonda), Christopher S. McNeal (Theresa), Matthew W. Tittle (Darlene), Stacy Helen Fox (Mike), Denise Harris (Daniel), Amy L. Davidson (Carey), Janet L. Barnes (David), and step-granddaughters Carla Sansone and Michele Lowe.  Survivors include eight great-grandchildren.  A great-grandchild, Luke, is deceased.  Other survivors include a great-great-grandchild, Noah, and Raymond’s sister, Jacqueline Tortora (Manny).

Visitation will be at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 29, 2018 in the sanctuary of First United Methodist Church of Ocala, 1126 East Silver Springs Blvd., followed by a funeral service at 11:00 a.m.  A reception will be in the Family Life Center following the service.  Interment will be at Highland Memorial Park (Hillcrest Section), 1515 NE 3rd Street, Ocala following the reception.

In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to the First United Methodist Church and designated for the Tuesday Morning Ministry.  The mailing address is 1126 East Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, FL 34470.