Neil Mackey

Robert “Neil” Mackey was born on June 26, 1960 in Sayre, Oklahoma to Dale Mackey and Evelyn Plummer Mackey. He entered eternal rest on March 13, 2025 at the age of 64. Neil farmed and worked in the oil field before attending Southwestern Oklahoma State University. He received his bachelor’s degree in accounting and moved to Dallas, where (after the suggestion of a dear, persistent aunt) he met his wife, Deena. They married in 1988. For the past seven years, Neil served as an elder at the Coleman Church of Christ. He cared deeply for his church family, often serving others in quiet ways: a visit, phone call, or passing out gum to kids at church. He lived out his faith in Christ through his impeccable character, dedication to God’s Word, and a love for people, especially children and the overlooked. Neil was known by many as the kindest person they had ever met. He kept a list of his projects that never seemed to grow shorter, because tasks for others always took precedence. Without being asked, he was constantly making repairs for others, brush-hogging someone’s pasture with his tractor, taking kids for adventures in the woods, and ensuring that there was plenty of ice at every family and church event. While Neil never inserted himself, he left an unmistakable mark on every situation by serving before others even recognized a need. He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Deena; his daughter Aubrey Danser and her husband Jordan of Fort Smith, Arkansas; his son Jared Mackey and his wife Jamie of Stillwater, Oklahoma, and his granddaughter Joanlee Mackey. He also leaves behind two brothers, Chris Mackey and his wife Peggy, of Sayre, Oklahoma, and Larry Mackey and his wife Carla, of Weatherford, Oklahoma, father-in-law Aubry “Don” Willingham of Coleman, Oklahoma, brother-in-law Larry Hand of Weatherford, Oklahoma and a further host of in-laws, cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends, who loved him dearly. He was preceded in death by his parents, Dale and Evelyn Mackey; his mother-in-law, LaRue Willingham; his brother, Carl Mackey; his sister, Alice Hand; and his niece, Danna Tadlock. Family visitation and viewing will be 6:00pm-8:00pm on Sunday, March 16, 2025 at the Coleman Church of Christ. Funeral services will be held on Monday, March 17, 2025, at the Coleman High School Gymnasium with David Earl Minson officiating. Interment will follow in Enterprise Cemetery with Jared Mackey, Grant McDaniel, Tommy Sharp, Thomas Seidel, Cody Willingham, and Jeff Willingham serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Chris Mackey, Larry Mackey, Joe Willingham, and Jim Willingham. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Church of Christ India, Church of Christ Nigeria, or Church of Christ Belize. Arrangements are under the direction of Brown’s Durant Funeral and Cremation Service.

Neil Mackey

June 26, 1960 - March 13, 2025