Edward Neil Query

Neil was born on August 19, 1938 in Monroe, N.C. to Edward Neil Query and Carrie Lee Morgan Query. Shortly after his birth, the family moved to Charlotte, NC.

Neil graduated from Central High School in 1956. Shortly afterward, he married Linda Gail Land and they had three children, Eddie, Gail and Susan.

Neil always worked. His first job was delivering the Charlotte News on his bicycle and then delivering the Charlotte Observer. He worked at Sedgefield Hardware during the time he was in high school.

Neil began his professional career with F.H. Ross Chemical Company working in traffic management. He attended Charlotte College (now UNCC) at night to get his degree. Over the years he worked his way up through the company, as it changed names over the years, Ashland, Sherex, and Witco. In the mid-1970s, a promotion moved him to Columbus, Ohio. Neil was highly respected for his management abilities, problem solving, attention to detail, and his work ethic. When he retired in 2002 from Witco, he was Manager of Facilities and Administration OSG Research and Development.

Upon retirement, he moved back to Charlotte N.C. with his wife Gayle.

All of his life, Neil stayed busy in his “spare” time. He enjoyed designing and building things; a tree house, a fort, adding a big garage and a den to his house. He worked every weekend clearing his lot and building a weekend lake house and family gathering place at the “new” Lake Norman. He was always ready and willing to help a family member with a construction project or a repair. He was self-taught and could do anything that he put his mind to. He was a perfectionist. In Ohio, he designed and did much of the labor himself on their home on the Scioto River, including a large “party house” and a gazebo down by the water.

In retirement, he continued to stay busy. He designed and built a gazebo, very similar to the one he built in Ohio, in a park area of his community. Neil was beloved by his neighbors, most of whom were young families. They knew that he was happy to lend at hand, give advice, help solve problems, share tools, anything they needed. He was “Mr. Neil” to the children in his Cul de sac and one of the high points of the year for him was handing out Halloween candy to them. He made sure that he would not run out!

Neil was known to treat everyone with respect and dignity, personally and professionally. He was known for his strong work ethic and his willingness to help others.

Neil is survived by his wife of 48 years, Gayle Stephanie Query of the home. His children, Edward Neil Query III (Ed) of Columbus, Ohio, Gail Query Sabo (David) of Columbus, Ohio, and Susan Query (Frank Greenlee) of Calabash, NC. Grandchildren Austin Taylor, Drew Taylor, Bryan Sabo (Karrie), Chris Sabo and two great grandchildren, Emersyn and Graham Sabo. His sisters, Patricia Query Wheatley and Linda Kluttz Hefner, and the mother of his children, Linda Land Shingler.

The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to Home Instead of Monroe and Via Hospice of Charlotte for their dedicated care of Neil these past several years and months that allowed him to remain in his home. The professional and personal care that he received from both agencies was a true blessing to him and to his family.

There will be a private family memorial service with an interment of his ashes next to his father in Sharon Memorial Park, per his wishes.

In memory of Neil, lend a helping hand when you can, get to know your neighbors and their families, and buy lots of “good” Halloween candy and have fun giving it out!