Obituary of Lee Roy O'Neal

  Services for Lee Roy O’Neal, 89, of Tyler, formerly of Overton, will be at 3:00 pm, Friday, August 18, in Overton at the Cottle-Pearson Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Dr. Matthew Thomas officiating.  Burial will follow in Overton City Cemetery.
Mr. O’Neal passed away, Tuesday, August 15, 2017 in a Tyler hospital, with family by his side.
  He was born February 12, 1928 in Wilson, Oklahoma to the late John Troy and Leta Mae Harper O’Neal. He married the love of his life Jeanette Helen Mersiosky April 28, 1950 in Corpus Christi, Texas.  He was a veteran of the US Army and served his country proudly.  His service to his country was one of his proudest accomplishments, and his family honors him for his service.
  He was a longtime resident of Overton where he insisted raising his family.  He refused promotions with Shell Oil Company in New Orleans, Louisiana but maintained his position as an offshore drilling superintendent and battled the drive just to keep his family settled in Overton.  He retired from Shell Oil Company after 34 years’ service, and he and Little Jeanie raised cattle full-time.
  He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and great-great grandfather.  An avid cattleman, he nurtured and cared for his stock like no other, with his bride always at his side.  He never had to open a gate, she was there to do that.  He did not bale a single bale of hay without his beautiful ranch hand at his side.  She could pull a calf if a heifer was struggling if Lee Roy was on a rig. 
He loved fishing, both saltwater and freshwater.  Whatever he did, his love, Little Jeanie, was by his side.  He was relentless, however, when playing golf or pool or poker or whatever game with boyfriends when his girls were growing up, and later when the daughters married.  He was very gifted at many sports.  He had caddied at a very young age, so he knew his way around a golf course.  He played semi-pro basketball and semi-pro baseball after high school graduation.   
  He was a proud member of the Masonic 1337 Independent Lodge of Corpus Christi, Texas.  He was  a member of the First United Methodist Church in Whitehouse.
  Besides his parents, Mr. O’Neal was preceded in death by his wife, Jeanette Helen O’Neal, as well as his five brothers, their wives, and his wife’s brothers, sisters, and in-laws.
  Survivors include a son he adored and was so proud of, Lee Roy O’Neal, Jr., and his wife, Terri, of China, Texas, who may as well have been birthed an O’Neal, as he and Jean loved her as if she were their child.  Also he is survived by two daughters, Deborah Ann O’Neal Shelton of Longview.  Deb was his first born and the absolute apple of his eye.  He was also proud of the middle child, Denise O’Neal Carrifee of Tyler.  He was especially fond of his surviving brother-in-law, Edmund Mersiosky, and sister-in-law, Gloria Jean of Georgetown.
  He is also survived by five adoring grandchildren and their spouses, Brandon and Betty Ellsworth, Leah and Philip Childs, Amy and Kurt Wagenhauser, Lee and Christie O’Neal, and Christopher Shelton; ten great grandchildren; four great-great grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; as well as other family members and a host of friends.
  Pallbearers will be Brandon Ellsworth, Christopher Shelton, Lee O’Neal, III, Philip Childs, Kurt Wagenhauser, and Lane Ellsworth.
  Honorary pallbearers will be Jeanne Gayle Gillespie Brewer, Lee Ann Palmer and Dennis Roach, childhood friends of Lee’s three children, who have remained their very best friends.  Lee and Jean both felt the three were just three more of their children and loved them dearly.
  Visitation will be prior to the service from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm, Friday, August 18th, at the funeral home.
    Online registration and condolences are available at www.cottlefuneralhome.com.