Isaac "Jim" James Mcneilly

JENNINGS Funeral services for Isaac James (Jim) McNeilly, 78, will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, April 16, in the Jennings United Methodist Church, pastored by the Rev. Ted Freeland. Rev. Peter Harrington, a friend and former pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church will officiate. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery under the direction of Miguez Funeral Home of Jennings. Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Friday, April 15 and from 9:00 a.m. until time of service Saturday in the Jennings United Methodist Church sanctuary. Mr. McNeilly died at 4:20 p.m. Tuesday, April 12, 2011 at his residence. A native of Lima, New York, Mr. McNeilly moved to Louisiana to play basketball and attend LSU where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Art Education. In addition, he played on the 1953 LSU Basketball team, which reached the Final Four in the SEC Tournament. It was not customary to give championship rings in the 1950s which later resulted in one of his most enjoyable memories when forty years later, during a reunion ceremony, all 14 living team members were presented championship rings. He later returned to LSU and received his Bachelor of Architecture degree. He has resided in Jennings for the past 45 years where his lifes work may be seen throughout the southwest area in many homes, schools, parks and businesses he designed. Mr. McNeilly served as a Youth Director, Sunday school teacher, president of the administrative board, and choir director for the Trinity United Methodist Church for many years and blessed many with his testimony in song. He later became a member of the Jennings United Methodist Church through its merger with Trinity and also served on the Southwest Louisiana Holiness Camp Meeting Association board. He served in the military for 4 years and was stationed at Loring Air force Base in Caribou, Maine for 2 of those years. Jim was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather who will be missed. Survivors include his wife of 53 years, Linda Hudson McNeilly; daughters, Shawn McNeilly of Jennings and Shannon Bacus of Prairieville; son, James Bret McNeilly of Rehoboth, Delaware; 2 grandchildren, Isabel and Lily Bacas; sisters Martha Abby of Henrietta, New York and Susannah (Don) Mastin of Avon, New York and numerous nieces and nephews. Mr. McNeilly was preceded in death by his parents Isaac and Mona McNeilly; three sisters, Jane (McNeilly) Dinehart, Mona (McNeilly) Patterson, and Leora (McNeilly) Buckman and two brothers, Col. Charles Richard McNeilly and Thomas Corkhill McNeilly. Memorials may be made to the Lake Arthur Camp Vision Fund, C/O Erich G. Loewer III, 5274 Ellis Rd., Crowley, LA 70526.