When i was very young and still living in Illinois. My uncle Darrell and I were sent out to get something from the store. I remember a mid 50s Chevy. We found a mud puddle on the side of the road and we're doing burn outs then going back to see what we had done. I guess we did too many burn outs in the puddle because it didn't let us go the final time and we got stuck. We had to walk to a house and call my grand father to come pull us out of the puddle.  Nephew Mark Neville

The world is a dimmer place without the sunshine of Darrell Neville. He was a good, gentle man who loved his family deeply and friends just about as deeply. Over the years that I’ve known him (1976 onward), he (and Terrie) shared stories of their relationship with their siblings, sons and their sons’ families. Their love for each other and their family members was obvious.

Darrell was a kind, generous “people person”. People were drawn to his innate kindness. We couldn’t help but love him. He didn’t hit us over the head with his love for God, yet that love shone through everything he did. 

Darrell was my husband’s friend, so I didn’t spend as much time with him as Gary did. Darrell, Terrie, Gary and I met over the years for meals and to attend events so when we all moved back to Central Illinois, we picked up right where we left off. We wrote letters and sent Christmas cards after all of us moved away from "home".  

I miss him terribly. These past few days, watching his family’s preparations to honor him and move to another level of care for Terrie, I feel the inexplicable urge to want to talk with Darrell to hear what he thinks about it all. He’d be pleased and proud of his kids and grandkids, that’s for sure. 

Reflecting on something Mike said in his eulogy, that Darrell had said that Terrie was the making of him. But I say, Terrie knew “gold” when she saw it.

Met the Neville family
 around sixth grade at the boys club in Pekin, Mike and I became friends and in seventh grade, played at edison junior high school together on the basketball team. At the end of seventh grade mike's family moved to Springfield, Illinois. Taking my friend south for eighth grade and on to high school, but that wasn't the end for me and mMkey. Mike's mom and dad would come and get me sometimes in Pekin to go all the way down to chatham, illinois, so that me and Mikey could still hang out on the weekend, sometimes from our crazy obsession with baseball cards to the Nintendo NES system obsession
we had a lot of fun. All these years later, i'm still friends with this wonderful family. I'm super sad
 for the loss of this wonderful man, but i'm grateful that he knew Jesus and as with the king in glory!

I went to school with Darrell and Terrie,they married out of high school , a perfect couple! My heart is breaking for this family . Neither one had a sole that didn’t love them . Darrell will be very missed .I am so so sorry 💔💔
From a school friend and life friend 
Dee Whitley -Harms

I worked with Darrell at Safety-Kleen for many years side by side. After Pekin closed, became his manager, and his last manager there, but he taught me way more than anyone could have about how to treat customers beyond the "corporate way". A class act and a true man. Always was proud of his life, his wife, and kids. A true, real and honest and humble man. A guy I wish I could ask a few more questions to, but we all do, I'm sure. See ya later Darrell, never goodbye.

One of my favorite memories of Darrell 

Like 6 or so years ago we were all sitting at the shop, wood burning going, the kids were playin on the bike / toys or even 4 wheelers. 
Darrell, Terrie , and chris and Mike and I were sitting around the table.
We had just got done eating tacos
I kept on making fun of Mike cause he made Terrie shred a block of cheese cause he doesn’t eat bagged shredded cheese. 
Then we got talking about family memories, I was talking about going to Delavan on Christmas Eve to get my rolls for chris aunt and uncle. Darrell goes I have family members there that’s my cousin Dwayne , Chris’s goes what’s his last name, he said Deweese, Chris goes that my uncle . From then on family. 
Lots of memories hanging with him at the shop and Mike & Allie’s house. Sitting on the lake on the dock in the evenings just sitting there chatting.
He would never miss anything for his grandkids he and Terrie were at everything. 

Going to miss you 
Dawn Allen

I will always remember Uncle Darrell, Aunt Terrie, and Aunt Debbie knocking on the door to the wrong house the first time they came to visit me in Indiana. 
Everyone was relieved my neighbor wasn’t there to answer her door to the “crazy strangers!”

Uncle Darrell was always up for an adventure, especially with family.  I will always think of him when I drink a Pepsi!

Darrell was more than just a Grandpa to me. He was a role model someone to look up to if you ever needed him for something he would be there. I remember when I was 13 years old. I wanted to go mowing to make money, but I didn’t have a mower or trailer. He decided that he was gonna help me out and let me use his mower and also haul me around with his trailer so I could have a little bit of cash for the summer. I will never forget those days just me and him riding around mowing lawns for cash.

Coming to visit you in osf and making sure you were okay, grandma had told you while visiting tbat she was starving, you asked me to make sure she had dinner before we went back home, we sent you this picture from Chillis that day!

You handing grandma money and asking her where do you wanna eat when she answered arbys, you said can you make it happen shay and we sent you this picture ❤️

From having a full blown melt down about my sun burn and you telling me, “it looks like it hurts” to me looking up and you being sound asleep mid conversation while I’m still talking will forever be a memory i cherish!  Your an amazing man and thank you for letting me help  take care of you I am forever blessed I got to love you and grandma!

A fun father, a caring husband, and a dependable grandpa. Darrell we’ll miss you every day until we see you again. Thank you for your life, love, and happiness. ❤️

I’m on my way Lord—I’ll be there shortly

Darrell was always there to make things work. He was a dependable caring friend.

I’m going to miss the stories you told. I’ll always cherish the memories I made with Darrell. His kindness and warmth will always hold a special place in my heart.

I remember Darrell from when he was in 6th or 7th grade. He was always a great guy.   I was fortunate to meet and marry his sister Diana. She was truly a treasure. I remember when he and Terry started dating. They were always so special. As I was able to see Darrrel grow he was always great to be around. He was always considerate and grew into a fine man.   He really loved sports and I am so thankful that he grew to love the Lord. He loved his wife, his boys and his grandchildren. He will truly be missed.

as I met Darrell under not so great circumstances, he welcomed me into his home with open arms. He will forever be one of my favorite patients I’ve ever gotten to take care of. Many of times he truly reminded me of my grandfather that had passed away a couple of years ago so having someone like him was truly a blessing. He will truly be missed rest in peace Darrell.

I grew up next door to the Nevilles. Mike was my original best friend. We celebrated several birthdays together, had sleepovers, spent countless hours hanging out, fishing and playing games and sports. Darrell and Terrie were like second parents to me. Darrell was one of my first coaches for organized sports and I am sure had a hand in teaching me how to play basketball and baseball. I recall him always calling me “Hank” as a youngster. I will always remember him for his love of family, his smile, his (unfortunate) passion for the St. Louis Cardinals and unforgettable laugh. 

Rest in peace, Darrell. Peace and love to Terrie, Mike, Matt and the Neville family.

I always appreciated how much family meant to Uncle Darrell.  Whether it was family reunions, visiting us in St. Louis for a baseball game, gathering for the family Christmas party, or the weekly breakfast after church, Uncle Darrell always made time to spend with us when we were in town.  He loved telling us about the grandkids and what each one was up to in school or about their latest game. Family gatherings won’t be the same without you. We’ll miss you, Uncle Darrell.

One of the sweetest most caring guys around. Everytime I ran into Darrell we would talk and talk. I will miss our talks.  Im so sorry to hear of his passing. Sending hugs

I don’t even know where to start. You were one of the biggest blessings my boys ever had.
 You were always down for whatever they wanted to do even if it wasn’t something you really wanted to do, but you never let it show and went along for the ride EVERY time. You were always there cheering them on no matter what event. Afterwards telling them how proud you were……even if they didn’t do well. The 15 minute kindergarten sing alongs in the middle of the day even if you found out 10 minutes before, you were there! Scrambling for a ride, you had it under control! Every year for your birthday dinner you already planned years ahead to give your whole cake away at the restaurant. Every time we took you fishing, you really didn’t fish, mostly untangled lines and baited hooks with a smile on your face and talked about how great of a time you had later. If the kids needed quarters for the gum-ball machines, pretty sure you already planned on that before we left the house. 
Got a shirt the kids made for grandparents day, as goofy as it looked, you wore it in public with a smile even if it was a size too small. You didn’t skip a beat going to Ackermans or Talbots for the last 13 years even as you got slower and your legs didn’t wanna go anymore. 

 And now rest assured Mike is going to have to eat all the broken sugar cookies during the decorating from now on for you. 
 Even as you laid in the hospital bed and the kids came, it was about them and what they had going on.
 Everything, no matter what, was always focused around us. Now that you’re gone it’s like a huge piece of our puzzle missing that makes us whole, and while we will still try to glue it back together and hang it back up, we will never be whole again.
Gone but never forgotten

I will always remember Darrell as the most patient Dad and husband.  He was a great guy!  ❤️

It didn't matter when or how often we were home, Darrell was there. For the quick drive by my mom's, sitting by us at Mass, orange juice at McDonald's. And always with a smile, happy to be here and have you here. Coming home meant seeing Uncle Darrell.

He was always there at grandpa and grandma's, too. And he was always there for my mom, whenever she needed it. That was an immeasurable blessing.

May we all carry that with us in greater spirit: to be the ones who show up. To be counted on. To see people for who they are, and to be there, not because it's easy or convenient, but because that's what love looks like in the everyday moments. That was Darrell. That's the gift he leaves us.

Terry this is Juanita Sawney. I am sending my sincere condolences to you and your family. When someone has been a part of our lives for over half a century it sounds long but our hearts feel it’s a blink of the eye. 
I lost my soulmate and true love “Mike VanBuskirk” on May 27, 2025. We had been married 51 1/2 years but a couple for 53 1/2 years. As we did I am sure you shared many Blessings. May your memories ease your pain. Sincerely, Your Old Friend and Classmate

I met Darrell when I was in 8th grade and me and Mike have been great friends since. I remember Darrell taking us fishing at the family farm where we fished all night and stayed all weekend. We even slept in the back of the truck!! Darrel was always very active with both Mike and Matt!! His face always had joy as he spoke of his boys!! Darrell was also great with Mike and Matt’s friends always treating us like his own. The one thing I will always remember is Darrell’s great smile and his laugh!! Darrel was a great man dad and husband!! Darrell and Terri raised to great men! Then their joys was the grandkids for sure!! Gonna miss ya Darrell! Thank you for always including me into your family!!

Darrell was a great brother-in-law, and I couldn’t have asked for a better guy to support my sister Terrie as her Alzheimer’s and dementia continued to progress to later stages.  He was so loving, so patient and he would do anything for her.   Being a caregiver was probably the hardest thing he ever did, and it was a 24/7 nonstop challenge.  But he loved her deeply and stayed by her side.  The three of us spent so much time together, and enjoyed going out to eat, sporting events, musicals, or just hanging out at home.  He always reached out and included me in any of their adventures.  I was blessed to have him as a brother- in-law and friend.

I met Darrell many years ago at Lawn Groomer Lawn  Care where he was the service manager and have had the pleasure of staying in contact with him through family connections. He was a Great guy who was extremely proud of his family and the biggest fan and Cheerleader of his Grandchildren.
Darrell was loved and will be missed by many.

He wanted that boat! Not sure what year, but long ago almost 30yrs ago I guess when Darrell and Terry lived on s. Capitol street close to Derby?  In the mid 90's I aquried an old semi v bttm boat with 9.9 mercury then I met Mike in 97. Once he found out I had a boat, we use to hit up his grandpas farm alot to fish. Few years later Darrell was wanting to buy it,  the more Id see him the more he asked, "you ready sell that boat!"  Well dunno if I was tired of fishing or what but I ended up making him a deal, thinking it was $75 and for sure his topper off of his S10 truck which I still have!  RIP Darrell  good Father devoted  Family man and good Friend..............

Darrell and I were life-long friends! We met in Betty Bowers' journalism class.. We hit it off right away! Through the years,Darrell and I did a number of things together.. We played pickup basketball, went swimming at Pekin pool,etc. Later,after I got married, the four of us ate out,, watched the musical Mama Mia,and He and Terrie had us over to their house on many occasions.. It was a privilege to share in their 50th wedding anniversary!
To sum it all up: a life well lived!

Darrell always had a smile on his face anytime I ran into him. He was definitely the Grandkids super fan! A truly great man that loved everyone  he ran across.

Prayers for comfort  to the entire family!

One of the things that always stood out to me about him was just how much his family meant to him. You could see it in the way he showed up for them. It seemed like no matter what was going on, he was always there at his grandkids’ games, supporting them, cheering them on, and being involved in their lives. That kind of presence says a lot about the type of man he was.
He was also incredibly proud of Mike and Allie and everything they were building with their business. Whenever he talked about them, you could hear the pride in his voice. He always spoke so highly of them and was genuinely supportive of what they were doing and the life they were creating together.
More than anything, he was a true family man. He loved his family deeply, took pride in them, and made it clear through his actions how important they were to him. That is something I will always remember and respect about him. He was the kind of person who showed up for the people he loved, and that is a legacy that says so much about the man he was

Bus Trip for Cubs game 9 years ago at Wrigley.

I had the privilege of working with him, and one of the things I’ll always remember most was the kind of person he was when I was going through a really difficult time in my life. He was someone I could talk to who genuinely listened, never judged, and always gave me honest, thoughtful advice. He wasn’t the type to just tell you what you wanted to hear, he would tell you the truth, but always in a caring and respectful way.
What meant even more to me was that he didn’t forget about it after the conversation was over. He would check in with me, ask how I was doing, and you could tell that he truly cared about the answer. During a time when I really needed that, it meant more to me than I probably ever told him.
He was a genuinely good man with a big heart, and I’ll always be grateful for the kindness, honesty, and compassion he showed me. I feel fortunate that I got the chance to know him and work alongside him. He made a lasting impression on me, and he will absolutely be missed.

One day, I was in my office when Darrell and Terrie came walking in.  They sat down and we started talking about what they were planning to do that day. Mike was not at the shop yet when they got there. He came in a little later and walked down to my office and said to his mom and dad, "I didn't remember that you were coming in today to visit with me." Darrell laughed and said, "We weren't here to see you ... we came down to visit with Brooke."  Oh too funny ...by the way, they were always there to visit with Mike.

Darrell and I meet at Pekin High School in the early 70's.  While in high school we had cool cars, him a Dart and me a Torino.  We both worked at various service stations and then at JC Penney's.  While at JC Penney's Terri also worked there.  At first we were clearing out the old store in downtown Pekin and then became stock boys at the mall store.  In the winter time when snow was on the ground we would get off work at the mall and do donuts with our cars in the parking lot (no one else around).  In 1973 when Darrell and Terri were married I was one of his groomsman, then when in 1976 I got married to Diana and Darrell was a groomsman in our marriage.  We stayed friends and went to car shows together.  We were both car nuts for performance cars.  We both had kids around the same time, 2 boys each.  We both also shared a love for Christ, which we shared together and had discussions on.  Darrell you will be missed but always be remembered.

Gary F.

Was shocked to hear of Darrell passing. My family first met him and his wife when we moved in across the street from them on S. Capitol Street. They were wonderful neighbors. Then I got to know them even more when I helped care for Terri's Mom. After they moved it was always a pleasure to see them and talk to them when out and about (usually see Darrell at Kroger, lol). 
Prayers of comfort for all the family and eternal rest for Darrell's soul. 🙏🙏🙏

I met Darrell and Terrie, 8 years ago, when I first started at RockyTop. Mike and Allie were always on the go with the business and Darrell and Terrie would make sure that the kids made it to the practices  and then Mike and Allie would catch up, and they all ate dinners together, then  would start all over the next day.  Darrell was a true grandfather that I know any child would love to have.  I hope you finally find comfort and we know you will continue to watch over Terrie and all your family. R.I.P. Darrell R.I.P my friend
Brooke

I met Darrell through sports as my son and his grandson played on various teams together over the years.  Darrell was always present, whether it be a game, practice, school event, dinner, you name it, he was there.  We had many talks about how things were when he was coaching Mike as compared to how they are now when Mike and I are coaching our kids.  There have been so many post game meals together and he will certainly be missed at those.  I truly hope that one day when I have grandkids of my own, I am as present for them as Darrell was for the Neville boys.  You all are so lucky to have had a man like that in your corner, cheering you on at all times!

Darryl was a truly present husband, dad, and grandfather who filled our lives with warmth and joy. He had a wonderful gift for making sure every single kid felt included, and his easygoing nature made him so easy to talk to.One of my favorite memories is simply sitting with him on the sidelines during Tyler and Justin’s sports games. No matter the score, he always brought a positive spirit and an encouraging word. Darryl never missed an opportunity to be there for the people he loved, and his dedication to his family is a beautiful legacy that will stay with us forever. I also loved watching my mom, Terrie and Darryl reminisce about the good ole days and fond memories of family.

To me one word comes to mind when I think of Darrell "family".  All the Neville's I know value their family more than anything.  You can tell Darrell taught that and lived that.  Mike and his whole family had a tradition of going to opening day for the Cardinals year after year no matter what was happening in life they tried to keep that family tradiotion.  I met Darrell through Rocky Top Inc where I got to know him well as he honored his "family" moto by helping Mike and Allie with running their business.  He would always come in with returns and to pick up materials and would always have great conversations with me.  I know Darrell's memory and family first mentality will live on through many generations of Neville's to come.  To Mike and his family I know this will be tough but "family" will get you through this.

I can vividly remember Darrell supporting Mike and the Auburn Trojans high school basketball and football  teams.  He was a passionate booster. 😉 We all appreciated his support, except maybe the referees on occasion.  

My sympathy goes out to the family.

Darrell was always the kindest when he would come in to buy materials at Richard’s Building Supply. He was one of my faves to work with! Such a good family man! The really good ones leave the biggest holes! Sending deepest sympathy and prayers to you all!

Terri, I’m heartbroken to hear about Darrell’s passing. I am praying for you, Michael, Matthew and the rest of your family during this truly devastating time. Praying that God sends angels to all to give all of the strength and comfort to get all of you. Diane Tharp

OBITUARY

Darrell Eugene Neville

February 6, 1955 – September 11, 2026

Preston-Hanley Funeral Home & Crematory

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