Doris N Mcniel

McNiel, Doris Dimple (Nix), age 96, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on June 6, 2021, in Beavercreek, Ohio. She was born on November 6, 1924, in Boerne, Texas, to Lorenzo Dow and Lillie Virginia (Romack) Nix. Doris grew up on a farm in Kingsville, Texas, with nine sisters and three brothers. She also had a fourth brother who died at childbirth. Doris met the love of her life, James Monroe McNiel while he was attending Texas College of Arts and Industry (Texas A&I, now part of Texas A&M) in Kingsville, Texas. Doris and James married on July 29, 1945, and James, then a pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corp (later, the U.S. Air Force), began a life together moving to multiple locations throughout the country before settling in Beavercreek, Ohio, in 1959. Doris worked at the Naval Base in Corpus Christi, Texas, during World War II until she and James moved to Eglin Air Force Base in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, where James served as a flight instructor for the remainder of the War. Her career as a full-time mother began shortly thereafter. When all the children were older, Doris both volunteered and was later employed for 20 years in the Beavercreek School System as an instructional-aide and library assistant.

Doris was a wonderful musician throughout her life playing multiple instruments. She loved to sing, especially duets with James. Family and friends always looked forward to her phone call on their birthdays and her rendition of Happy Birthday on her harmonica. Doris was also an extremely talented artist creating numerous paintings on canvas, seashells, rocks and even clothing. She also loved to create sketches in chalk. She always signed her art with a simple “Doris.”

Doris loved traveling with James, family, and friends, as well as camping, skiing, sailing and out-fishing James. Above all, Doris had a deep faith in God, serving both inside and outside the church. She lived a lifetime loving and serving God, her family, and others. She was never hesitant to share her faith with others especially to her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, always encouraging them to live a life of trust and faith in, and commitment and service to God.

Doris loved and took great joy in her husband, James, 6 children, 11 grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by James and her son, Larry. Doris is survived by her five remaining children and their spouses: Bruce McNiel (wife Donna), Linda Jungwirth (husband Gary), Marty Welch (husband Bill), Paul McNiel (wife Suzanne), and Phil McNiel (wife Debbie). She is also survived by all her grandchildren and their families.

Family will receive friends from 9:30 - 10:30 AM Saturday, June 26, 2021 at The Patterson Park Church, 3655 Patterson Rd, Dayton, Ohio, 45430, with a funeral service at 10:30 AM Saturday at the church. Contributions may be made to Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton, 324 Wilmington Ave, Dayton, Ohio 45420 or to The Church at Eastmont, 1380 Spaulding Rd, Dayton, Ohio 45432, or to a charity of your choice.

Arrangements in care of TOBIAS FUNERAL HOME-BEAVERCREEK CHAPEL, 3970 Dayton-Xenia Rd. Online condolences may be sent to www.tobiasfuneralhome.com.

The funeral service will be streamed at https://boxcast.tv/view/doris-mcniel-celebration-of-life-memorial-bjpujpbmyp8atdiekwep