Johnny "Mac" McNeley

Coleman Funeral Home of Olive Branch Johnny “Mac” McNeley, 66, passed away suddenly on Thursday, December 5, 2024, with his wife by his side. He was born February 16, 1958, in Omaha, NE, and lived in Iowa. He was a member of the wrestling team from Guthrie Center High School, a treasurer of the local FFA chapter, and a dairy judge. After graduating in 1976 he joined the Navy and was honorably discharged in 2002 as a Senior Chief Petty Officer, Damage Controlman, after proudly serving for 26 years. His last duty assignment was NAVMAC Millington, TN. Upon discharge from the Navy, he attended horseshoeing school in Oklahoma, becoming a farrier. Johnny was known to his friends in the South as Mac. He worked for Steel Warehouse of Memphis for 22+ years in maintenance, retiring October 31, 2024. In his off time when the grandchildren were young, he loved to have them spend the weekend at the farm with the menagerie of horses, goats, pigs, chickens and turkeys. Easter on the farm was always a fun time with easter egg hunts for the kids and “special” egg hunts for the grown-ups. He enjoyed the outdoors and was an avid hunter, as well as a fisherman on the ponds at his farm. He loved to participate in retriever hunt tests as a handler, judge, and worker. He was an active member of Southern Flight HRC and a Started judge for HRC/UKC. He was also an active member and on the Board of Directors for Mid-South Hunting Retriever Club where he judged AKC Junior and Senior retriever hunt tests. Johnny “Mac” lived in Holly Springs, MS with his wife, Janice. He is pre-deceased by his father, Billy McNeley, and a brother, Francis McNeley. Surviving family members are his mother, Shirley McNeley (Chichester), and two brothers, Roger and Terry McNeley, all still in Iowa, and his sister, Peggy Williams (McNeley) in Maryland. He has two adult children, Timothy McNeley in Millington Tennessee and Sarah Gaynor (husband Ryan) in Spanish Fort, Alabama. He has five grandchildren whom he loved dearly and bragged on whenever the chance arose: Dylan and Presley Gaynor; Drake, Mason “Cash” and Waylon McNeley. He also had two stepchildren, Samantha Poole (Williamson) in Holly Springs, Mississippi and Chris Williamson in Clearwater, Florida. There will be a Celebration of Life for his family and friends in the South on January 18, 2025 from 13:00 - 16:00 hours at 940 Outdoor & Co, 940 MS-7 Holly Springs. Please wear something camo as a tribute to what he loved. Family and friends in Iowa will have their celebration in June. Details are still being worked out. His remains will be interred at the Veterans Cemetery in Van Meter, Iowa.

Johnny "Mac" McNeley

February 16, 1958 - December 5, 2024

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