Michael "Mickey" Joseph McNeal Jr.

Michael (Mickey) Joseph McNeal Jr, 87, of George West, Texas, passed away peacefully on May 21st, in San Antonio, Texas.

Mickey was born March 15, 1939, in Alice, Texas. He worked alongside his parents at the family-owned Cities Service filling station when he was just 12 years old. In an era when service stations were the heart of small-town communities, he learned early lessons about hard work and responsibility. Along with pumping gas, fixing flats, changing oil, and servicing vehicles, Mickey drove the station’s fuel truck delivering gasoline and diesel to farmers and ranchers throughout the Alice area. The station later became a Phillips 66, reflecting the changing face of the Texas oil business that would remain a lifelong part of Mickey’s world.

He grew up during the hardworking oilfield years that shaped much of his life and character. Those early years helped his father shape the toughness, work ethic, and pride that Mickey carried with him throughout his life and career in the oilfield.

Mickey graduated from Adams High School in 1957. He proudly served his country in the United States Navy and completed a Western Pacific deployment on the USS HANCOCK CVA-19 in 1959. After his service he returned to Alice and began work as a Roughneck for Flournoy Drilling.

Mickey married Nita Boucher McNeal in Corpus Christi on October 4, 1977. Mickey retired from Coastal States Crude Gathering in 2001 with 31 years of service, where he built lasting friendships and earned the respect of those who worked alongside him. Known for his toughness, work ethic, and devotion to his family, Mickey represented the values of a true South Texas roughneck generation.

He was a man who believed in hard work, loyalty, and providing for those he loved. He will be remembered for his strength, his stories, his sense of humor, and the lasting impact he made on his family and friends.

Mickey was preceded in death by his loving wife of 44 years, Nita McNeal, his parents, Michael McNeal and Ernestine Lynn, and two sisters, Kay Holbein and Nancy Drew. Survivors include his three children, Lisa (Eddie) Perez, Sunni (Tim) Perttula and Lamar (Angie) McNeal, eight grandchildren, Emily, Jae, Victoria, Timothy, Lamar, Lillian, Troy and Elisabeth; eight great-grandchildren, Ronin, Ariana, Kailynn, Kaiya, Daniel, Madelynn and Zephyr; and one brother Rockey (Cinda) Crews of Wylie, Texas.

Visitation will be held from 2 to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 30th, at First Baptist Church in George West followed by the funeral service at 3 o'clock with Rev. Larry Freeman officiating. Mickey will be laid to rest at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 6th at Mt. Zion Cemetery, 1517 SH 11 in Cumby, Texas.

Pallbearers will be Timothy Perttula, Lamar Perttula, Troy McNeal, Jae Perez, Tim Perttula, Eddie Perez.