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Dr. Roy Newton Neil
Dr. Roy Newton Neil, 78, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, March 16, 2016 in Excelsior Springs, Mo, at the home of his brother-in-law. Dr. Neil died comfortably of natural causes related to a long-term medical condition.
He leaves his wife of 34 years, Elizabeth Ann (Schutte) Neil; his daughter, Jennifer Neil Farmer and her husband, Robb Farmer, Fort Worth, Texas; his son, Dr. John Neil and his wife, Shaheen Neil, Scottsdale, Ariz.; his son, Jason Walters and his wife, Kerri Walters, Fort Worth, Texas; five grandchildren, Jacob Neil, Samuel Farmer, Sarah Neil, Julia Neil, and Natalie Olivia Walters; his brothers and brother-in-law, Roger and Paul Neil and James Schutte and their families; many dear friends and extended family members; and countless former patients.
Roy was born on January 9, 1938 in Dawson County, Neb., near the Platte River Valley, nine minutes before his fraternal twin brother, Roger. He was raised on a rural hog farm near Lexington, Neb., the son of Lloyd and Mary Ann Neil. In his early years, “Newt” as he was called on the farm, learned to work hard. Chores included: breaking draft horses to pull the plow; birthing and breaking riding horses, including a prized black stallion named “Diamond”; raising and breeding feeder hogs; plowing the fields; and herding free-range livestock in the back-country. He attended a one-room school with the same teacher and a total of six students, including the three Neil brothers. At home, his mother, educated as an English teacher, required reading from the Bible, famous poets, and the works of William Shakespeare. Roy played the accordion, was a life-guard, and taught Sunday school.
After graduating from high school in 1955, Roy hitched a ride by train to California. Along the way, he rode the rodeo circuit, riding broncos and bulls. He met lots of interesting characters along the way, including a young singer by the name of Johnny Cash.
Roy decided after a couple of adventurous years in the golden state that it was time to head back to Nebraska and enroll in college. He was an excellent creative writer and initially enrolled in Journalism at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. After working through his general education, he decided to change majors and enroll in medical school at UNMC, Omaha. There he studied Pathology and Family Practice Medicine. He graduated #1 in his class and was awarded a gold omega watch from the medical school.
After graduating in 1968, Dr. Neil worked as a family practice physician in Loop City, Neb. In 1970, Dr. Neil and his young family moved to Hays, Kans., where he worked as the VP of the Hays Pathology Lab. By 1976, Dr. Neil realized that his true calling was family practice medicine. He set up an office in the basement of the Hays National Bank building and later moved his practice to the Eddy Clinic. Although he took care of adults of all ages, he had a special connection and gift in caring for the elderly. His years as a pathologist made him an excellent diagnostician. Years before the national trend towards complementary medicine, Dr. Neil incorporated numerous holistic and complimentary healing modalities, such as Chelation therapy and Vitamin B-12 shots, into his medical practice.
During his 30 years of private practice, Dr. Neil, along with his wife Elizabeth, also operated the Health and Nutrition Center at the Mall in Hays. The Center was an integral and supportive part of Dr. Neil’s medical philosophy that included whole foods nutrition and vitamin and mineral supplements. Dr. Neil spent many evenings and weekends reading leading edge medical journals/books, researching the mind-body connection, studying the field of Quantum Physics, and talking with various colleagues in the research fields of medicine and science. Towards the end of his years in private practice, he was asked to speak to KU Medical Center about his pioneering knowledge of Chelation Therapy and other complimentary modalities that proved highly successful with patients in his practice. Dr. Neil was a life-long learner in the fields of medicine/science and was a gifted physician who loved his work and the many people he cared for.
Other interests included his family, the natural world, and Native American and Western History. He particularly enjoyed the mountains of Colorado at Crested Butte and Aspen. He enjoyed Western movies and Country Western music. He wasn’t a man who cared about worldly possessions, but did treasure two Native American flutes given to him by a Lakota medicine man.
Dr. Neil will be missed dearly by his family and friends. The family is planning a private memorial service as a celebration of his life. The Neil Family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the charity of Dr. Neil’s choice: The Salvation Army of Ellis County. Please address and mail checks to:
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THE SALVATION ARMY
203 E. 7th Street, Suite A
Hays, Kansas 67601
Please include on check memo: “IN MEMORY OF DR. ROY NEIL” to insure that your donation provides direct assistance to the people of Ellis County.
Our family thanks you.
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