Neal Dean Brillhart

Friends may call at Johnson’s Funeral Home where Rev. Brillhart will lie in State Thursday and Friday. A celebration of his life will be held 10 AM Saturday, February 20, 2016 at Lifepoint Baptist Church, 810 Austin Street, San Angelo, Texas with burial to follow at Lawnhaven Cemetery.

Born to Floyd and Marie Brillhart on a farm near Mapleton, Kansas, Neal’s childhood included milking cows, hunting, fishing and developing a love for nature that lasted a lifetime. After graduation from Fulton High School, where he excelled in basketball, he went to work for the Kansas State Highway Department.

As a young adult, Neal accepted Christ as his personal Savior at Xenia Baptist Church. Shortly thereafter, he felt called to preach, surrendered his life and subsequently enrolled in Baptist Bible College, Springfield, Missouri. It was at college he met and married June Jayne. While attending college and early in his ministry, he supported he and his wife as a butcher. After he graduated from BBC with a degree in Theology, he and Junie moved to Girard, Kansas where they started New Testament Baptist Church.

A few years later, Neal accepted the pastorate of West Side Baptist Church of Emporia, Kansas. He pastored in Emporia for 15 years prior to moving to San Angelo, Texas to pastor Baptist Temple Church (currently Lifepoint Baptist Church).

After 29 years as Senior Pastor of Baptist Temple Church, Neal retired and was awarded the title of Pastor Emeritus. Neal continued to teach his Sunday School class for another 12 years before his health deprived him of pursuing his passion of teaching the Bible he knew so well and loved sharing.

Neal was preceded in death by his parents; brother Raymond Brillhart; sister Lois Maxwell; and great-granddaughter, Jupiter Hernandez.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, June; daughters Nealla St. Clair and husband, John; and Juanna Bohannan and husband, Bill; son Daniel Brillhart; grandchildren Amy Barber; Erin St Clair and husband, Andy Hernandez; and Shane VanZandt; step grandchildren Tracy Autem and husband, J.W.; Todd Bohannan; and Trevor Bohannan and wife, Amanda; great-grandchildren Andrew Barber; Luna and Jasper Hernandez; step-great-grandchildren Alexander, Gideon and Josephine Autem; Mikayla and Aiden Bohannan; sister Dona Edwards and husband, Dick; sister-in-law Josephine Brillhart, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank the numerous friends and family who have prayed, encouraged and offered so many acts of kindness. We would also like to express our gratitude to Baptist Memorial Hospice, Shannon Home Health and Hospice of San Angelo for their kindness and compassion while caring for Neal.

Memorial donations may be made to Lifepoint Baptist Church, 810 Austin

Street, San Angelo, TX 76903. Family and friends may express condolences and

sign the online guest book at www.johnsons-funeralhome.com.

“Now also when I am old and greyheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.” Psalm 71:18 (KJV)