James Neil Horney

The family will receive friends for a time of visitation from 6:00-8:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 7, 2026 at Loflin Funeral Home, 212 W. Swannanoa Avenue, Liberty. A Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 8, 2026 at Tabernacle Methodist Church, 5721 Methodist Rd, Greensboro. Neil will be laid to rest in the church cemetery.

He was born on October 29, 1967, in Greensboro, NC to mother, Linda Duncan Horney and father, Jimmy Horney. He grew up in Julian, NC and attended Nathanael Greene Elementary School, Southeast Junior High School, and attended church and Sunday School at Tabernacle Methodist Church and participated in MYF at Julian Methodist Church as a teenager. He graduated from Page High School in Greensboro, NC in 1986.

Neil developed an early interest in flying when the family lived near Causey Aviation, which was close enough for Neil to reach by bicycle. He rode his bike there and watched planes take off and land frequently. When Neil was four-and-a-half years old and his mother was at Cone Hospital, awaiting the birth of a child, Neil called and inquired as to whether they had any “boy babies” there. His mother said “yes”, and Neil told her to just get one and come on home. When the birth happened, it was his brother, Eric. The family took the baby home and presented him to Neil as “his baby brother”. Neil took ownership and after that, saw himself as the responsible older brother. When Eric started talking, the first word he ever said was “Null”. Good attempt and the pronunciation cleared up later.

During his growing up and high school years, both Neil and Eric worked weekends and summers at Julian Milling Company with their father and beloved grandfather, Dave Horney.

After high school, Neil attended Lees-McRae College and Appalachian State University in the mountains of North Carolina. He realized that his real interest lay in aviation. He enrolled in and completed the Career Pilot Associate Degree program at Guilford Technical Community College. Neil took flying lessons at Causey Aviation in Julian, NC and became a licensed pilot in 1991. He worked first as a flight instructor and then did charter trips from Causey Aviation. He worked for LabCorp flying specimens for a while before being hired by NetJets in October 1999 and he worked for NetJets until his death. He made valued friends throughout the years and was known for his unique personality, his love of camaraderie, Jimmy Buffett music, good stories, and good times.

His friends praised Neil’s generosity to family and friends, but Neil was also fond and admiring of cats and their self-sufficiency. He was 58 years old and built a life filled with good friends, a career that he enjoyed, and lots of good times. He had just returned from a week-long trip to Key West, Florida, where he received the discounts for locals because of his frequent visits. Neil’s Caribbean attitude made him feel at home there.

Neil is survived by his father, Jimmy Horney (Janice); mother, Linda Duncan Horney; and beloved brother, Eric Davis Horney. He was also survived by special friend, Jennifer Greeson, and her children, Garrett, Hayleigh, and Ivey, who shared much of Neil’s time for over a decade.

In addition to flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Feral Cat Assistance Program by visiting www.feralcatassistanceprogram.org/donate

Please share your thoughts and memories with the family at www.LoflinFH.com

Loflin Funeral Home of Liberty is honored to serve Neil’s family.