Thomas J McNeeley

Thomas J. McNeeley, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend to many, died Sunday, August 26, 2018, at the age of 76.  He joined his late parents, Joe and Mae McNeeley, as well as his late ex-wife, Shannon Pilon McNeeley, with whom he maintained an amicable relationship.

Tom was born, the oldest of two boys, in Euclid, Ohio outside of Cleveland, in 1942 in the midst of WWII.  He attended St. Catherine’s Catholic School and St. Paul’s Catholic School before attending and graduating from St. Joseph Catholic High School in 1960.  He attended John Carroll University for a time, but was drafted into the Army where he proudly served for two years. Tom spent the majority of his life working for Reliance Electric, which is what brought him to Athens, Georgia in 1970.

At 28 years old, Tom transferred to Athens, where he would remain for the rest of his life as an active and popular member of this town.  He met, married, and later divorced Shannon Pilon, but not before they had four children - Jeremy, Meghan, Matthew and Ryan. Tom McNeeley was a man dedicated to helping others.  For more than 40 years he was highly engaged in activities at St. Joseph Catholic Church and School as member of the Parish Council, the Knights of Columbus, and originator of the senior social group and ministry, Young At Heart.  He was no less involved in enterprises at Reliance Electric, where he worked for nearly 30 years, as he was one of the founding members of First Reliance Credit Union.

Never one to enjoy sitting idly, Tom was always busy.  Over the years, and often while still holding down his full-time job at Reliance, he dabbled in real estate, painted people’s houses on the side, and tended bar for Lee Epting Catering.  After retirement, he was the director of downtown parking with the Athens Downtown Development Authority, ushered at both the Classic Center and UGA’s Hugh Hodgson Hall, and volunteered at UGA football games for several seasons.

Tom McNeeley loved to be involved.  We, Tom’s four children, best remember our dad for the numerous events, festivals, parties, and other various social engagements attended  or hosted throughout our lives. He chaperoned our field trips, attended all our games, and volunteered at our schools. He loved the Twilight Criterium, attending each year  since its inception in the 1970s. He was very proud of the time he spent volunteering for the 1996 Olympics in Athens and the Widespread Panic’s CD Release Party in 1998.

Tom is survived by his four children, Jeremy, Meghan (Travis Perkins), Matt (Hillary Gaunt), and Ryan (Sarah); his five grandchildren, Aiden Michael, Ayden Lux, Colby, Sullivan, and Addelina; his brother, Brian (Maribeth); his extended Pilon family; his extended Cozart family, and, as the “unofficial mayor” of Athens, a myriad of friends and family.

The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, August 28, at the the Lord & Stephens Funeral Home East, 4355 Lexington Road, Athens.

A memorial mass will be held at 10:00am. Wednesday, August 29, at The Catholic Center at UGA, 1344 S Lumpkin St, Athens, GA 30605.

Lord & Stephens Funeral Home East, Athens, is in charge of the arrangements.  The family requests that donations be sent to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital in lieu of flowers.