Zachary Ryan McNeill

Zachary Ryan McNeill, 25 of Sanford passed away Saturday, June 11, 2016. A Memorial service will be held at 3:00pm Wednesday at St Francis Anglican Church. The family will receive friends following the service in the fellowship hall.

Zack graduated from Southern Lee High School, then from NC State University and currently was in the graduate school at NC State University. He was the Agriculture teacher at Union Pines High School, and coached baseball at New Century Middle School. Zack had a passion for the outdoors whether it was duck hunting, deer hunting fishing, or playing sports. He was the very first recipient of the Don Buie Award. His love for cooking benefited not just his family but his friends also. Sometimes you didn’t know what you were eating but you knew it tasted good. Zack could do almost anything, from sports to sewing, crock pot cooking, a marksman, to his part time job at Dicks Sporting Goods, assisting others, doing what he loved. His smile and laughter could brighten any room and always made others feel better. Zack exemplified his love of life, family, friends and honesty through his actions. He will be remembered as a “Simple Man” which ironically is the name of his favorite song and the way he was known by all.  

Zack is survived by his parents, Penny Parker McNeill, and Rodney L. McNeill; sister, Parker McNeill of Sanford; brothers, Nicholas McNeill and Dillon Willett of Sanford; fiancé’ Morgan Douglas of Sanford; paternal grandparents, Margaret McNeill of Sanford and Kendall McNeill of Broadway; maternal grandparents, Erby and Rose Parker of Sanford; Step mother, Allison McNeill; god parents, Tony and Jeanie Sorrell of England, and Philip and Chris Hearne of Candor, NC.

Memorial contributions can be made to the FFA Scholarship Program at Union Pines High School, 1981 Union Church Rd, Cameron, NC 28326.