Lawrence James Neil

Lawrence James Neil, a former police officer and Ford Motor Company security officer and long time resident of Sun City, Arizona, since his retirement, died at home on December 9, 2020, at the age of 79 after a long illness and at home hospice in the care of his loving wife.

Larry is survived by his wife, Patricia Ann Neil (nee Blair); his seven children, Karen Lancendorfer (nee Mosti), Christine Taylor (nee Neil), Karen Neil, James Mosti, Donald Neil, Anthony Mosti, and Lori Neil; his 12 grandchildren, Brittany Hice (nee Mosti), Alexandra Lancendorfer-Halliday, Jonathan Mosti, Nicholas Lancendorfer, Camryn Lea Kelly (nee Mosti), Michelle Schwab, Mychal Steller, Mytchal Neil, Candyce Bradshaw (nee Abair), Ashlee Wiles (nee Abair), Austin Abair, and Lindsey Farthing; his four great grandchildren, Dailynn, Emerit and Kacey Bradshaw and Cayden Wiles; his nephews, Ryan McLeod and Michael Lang; his brother in-law, Robert Blair, his sister in-law, Cindi Blair (nee McDonald) and his niece, Kellie Gripentrog (nee Blair). He is predeceased by his parents, Donald Neil and Frances Neil (nee Tryon), his sister, Patricia McLeod (nee Neil), his brother, Robert Neil, and his nephew, Neil Skelton.

Larry was born in Mount Clemens, Michigan on November 15, 1941. He was proud of his service to his country while in the Army as a Medic during the Vietnam Era; including being present for jump training by the well known 101st Airborne. He had ridden and enjoyed motorcycles his entire life, even as Detroit, Mackinaw City and Petoskey, Michigan police officers, until a knee injury in 2010 took that pleasure away from him.

At one time he had considered buying a 1957 Thunderbird and has admired that model at nearly every auto show in every state he visited. However, he and his wife, who had known each other as children and then met again 30 years later at a block reunion, enjoyed traveling so much, especially for 3-4 months every summer, taking long road trips to visit their large family living all over the United States, that an SUV made more sense. Six years ago Larry shared that, at one point in his life, he had also wanted to own a pickup truck, and the SUV was replaced by a “candy apple red” (color from his teen years) Ford F-150 extended cab pickup aptly named “Big Red.”

As an aside, when Larry and his future wife, Patricia, were in elementary school, he was a safety boy manning the corner of a main thoroughfare that had to be crossed between their street and Horace Mann School. One day a car made a left turn coming right at Patricia, and Larry pushed her out of the way, saving her from injury or death. They were both skinned up, yet alive; but she was angry about her torn dress and scuffed saddle shoes. In the 40s and 50s both girls and boys had to dress appropriately – no jeans or tennis shoes or the like. So you see, even then Larry had been watching out for other people. And in point of fact, that was the first time he possibly saved her life, with at least four more incidences after that, two involving rattlesnakes. She wasn’t nick-named Miss Iodine for nothing!

Larry was very patriotic and a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and a member of the Commanders Club of Disabled American Veterans (DAV). He sent yearly donations to both organizations, plus the Vietnam Veterans Association, the American Legion, the Sheriff Association of Maricopa County, the Lions Club International and others.

He really loved the water, any body of water, but especially the ocean and large lakes. We made sure our excursions included lakes, even if we had to go out of our way to get to one. Then we would spend at least a week there. When we decided to move to Arizona in the year 2000, being from Michigan, known as “Water, Winter Wonderland,” he wanted to see water rather than a wall, even one with a mural. Our home in Ventana Lakes faces a long stretch of water on our small lake, by Michigan standards, and we converted the patio to a sunroom. He loved that room and wished he wasn’t bedridden for over 100 days so he could spend many of those days in there reminiscing. His last days were spent in a hospital bed in the living room facing the lake just as he did every evening we lived there, except from the couch.

Larry spoke Italian from spending part of his service to the Army in Northern Italy, mainly in Vicenza and on a huge lake named Lago De Garda, and that is where he and his wife enjoyed their honeymoon. It was amazing that the people still living there remembered him, invited them to their homes and even to a private street fair not for tourists, making the trip so much more memorable. Then on the boat cruise, the band agreed to play Larry’s favorite Italian song from his time stationed there. Larry and Patricia celebrated their Silver Wedding Anniversary July 28, 2020.

He found great pleasure in music. He not only loved dancing, but was an excellent dancer and though he had eclectic tastes, Elvis Presley was his all time favorite singer and he has watched every one of Elvis’ movies, even the stinkers!

Larry was a good, caring, loving and generous father and husband, who was hard working and expected his children to be that responsible too. One of them had actually nicknamed him “A drill Sergeant with a sense of humor.” He especially enjoyed being able to work outside nearly all nine months after retirement, as the Arizona weather let him wear shorts, even when it was so cold he had to break down and put on a sweatshirt. Larry was never without one of his patriotic baseball caps in the ample sunshine 300+ days a year. He was always ready to help a neighbor or chat as everyone had to walk a block to retrieve their mail. He has picked up those who have fallen in the rocks or used his pickup to help neighbors get items too large for a sedan. First as the Block Watch Captain for our street and then just as a friendly neighbor, he kept track of everything important going on in the neighborhood.

Larry will be deeply and forever missed by his entire family, friends and all who knew him. He was there for us in so many wonderful shared good times and ready to help or console in the too numerous bad times. Larry’s

passing is leaving a hole in our hearts and our lives that can never be filled. May God watch over him till we can all be together again in Heaven.

His Memorial service will be held at the Surprise Funeral Care Chapel at 16063 West Bell Road, Surprise, AZ 85374. (623) 546-8002, on March 5, 2021. It will begin at 9:45 AM and be officiated by his son, Pastor Anthony Mosti, who will be performing the Memorial songs Larry had requested in addition to a bagpipe selection. It will also be live streamed at Web address: Facebook.com/tonymosti. There will also be a memorial page where comments can be left at SurpriseFuneralCare.com. Search by his name.

Larry has asked that in lieu of flowers, he would like donations in his name to go to the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), and/or the Lions Club International Sight First Program. He always felt that the worst thing that could happen to someone would be to become blind. Those websites and/or addresses are: Disabled American Veterans, Chapter 20, 8447 North Glendale Avenue, Glendale, AZ 85302; and Lions Club International Foundation (indicate this is for the Sight First Program), Department 4547, Carol Stream, IL 60122 if paying by check. If you prefer to use a credit card go to the website LCIF.org and pick the yellow Donation square in the upper right corner, followed by The Empowering Service Fund. Please include the following information: In memory of Lawrence Neil, 19859 North 110th Lane, Sun City, AZ 85373. Both the DAV and the LIONS inform us that they will be acknowledging your donation in his memory to the family.

At approximately 11:00 AM there will be a catered luncheon in the same building for those who had previously been invited and responded. Main dishes and sides were selected by Larry himself. The pandemic and resulting shut downs and limitations, especially at the cemetery, have prevented us all from gathering until this date, and have also prevented most out of state extended family and friends from being here with us now.

Following this repast, there will be a 1:45 PM Interment ceremony at the Veteran National Memorial Cemetery, located at 23029 North Cave Creek Road, Phoenix, AZ 85024, (480) 513-3600. Military funeral honors will be provided by the Department of Defense volunteer honor guards. Ten previously selected family members may stand 6 feet from the place of interment and cemetery workers, while others present must stand at a greater distance or watch from their vehicles. That will conclude the events in memory and honor of Larry, exactly as he had planned them himself on August 25, 2020.

Every veteran interred in a VA national cemetery is automatically memorialized with an individual profile page, on the Veterans Legacy Memorial (VLM) site after the cemetery updates the Veterans interment record, usually within two days. VLM has been expanded to allow online visitors to leave comments or tributes on a Veteran’s page. The tribute allows visitors to voice memories and appreciation for a Veteran’s service. All comments will be viewed for appropriateness prior to being posted. We invite all family members and friends to visit VLM and leave a tribute.