NEILL, Owen

May 16, 1927 ~ June 18, 2021
 
Owen Neill passed away gently of natural causes at Extendicare Mapleview in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. Predeceased by his wife Betty (2013).  He is survived by his two sons Kim and Jeff, his daughter Barb Forest (Ray) and four grandchildren, Erin, Danny, Jennifer and Jesse. Owen was born in Port Arthur, Ontario, the first son of George and Lila Neill. His younger brother Raymond predeceased him in 2016.
 
Owen was a gifted athlete in high school and as a student would continue his formal education at MacMaster University where he earned his BA and began his teaching career in the early 1950’s. He taught English at the Soo Collegiate in his early years and in 1966, he moved the family to Preston Ontario to take a position at Preston High School teaching Art and English. In 1974 the family moved back up to the Soo where he taught Art and English at Central Algoma Secondary School before finishing his teaching career at Bawating C&VS until his retirement in the early 80’s. Over recent years many of Owen’s students had connected with him or family members to express their appreciation for the positive and lasting influence he had on them as a teacher and mentor.
 
Owen was a keen motorcycle enthusiast in his younger days and operated Superior Motorcycle Sales in the late 1950’s through the mid 1960’s and at one time was the oldest registered motocross competitor in Canada at age 45.
 
Owen was always athletic and active throughout his life and these attributes contributed to a long and healthy life well into his 90’s.
 
After Owen retired, he pursued his passion for poetry and writing and would go on to have over a dozen books published earning a number of awards and recognition both locally and abroad.
 
He was keen to travel, loved the outdoors and had a deep appreciation for nature and the wilderness and wrote many pieces inspired by that love.
 
The family is most grateful for the exceptionally kind and attentive care Owen received from staff on Harmony Bay unit during the final stages of his long life. The family would also like to acknowledge the staff at Pathways and the many friends he made there when Dad lived before moving to Mapleview in November 2020. He was actively involved in the Alzheimer Society and would like to recognize the kind and compassionate work done by staff.
 
 
There will be no official service with respect to the current Covid situation.
Memories and messages of condolences can be posted at sootoday.com.
Donations can be made to the Humane Society, TAAG or the Alzheimer Society of Sault Ste. Marie and Algoma (payable by cheque or online).
 
Arrangements entrusted to O’Sullivan Funeral Home and Cremation Centre, 215 St. James St, 705-759-8456.