Neil James Patrick McNamara, 51, of Laughlin, NV, formerly of
St. Louis, MO and Grand Prairie, TX, passed away unexpectedly in Laughlin, NV, on Thursday, September 21, 2023.
Neil was born May 27, 1972, in Honolulu, HI, and grew up in Texas and Germany. A resident of Saint Louis, MO for many years, most recently, he resided in Laughlin, NV.
Neil was preceded in death by his mother, Judith Ann (Casey) McNamara; his infant sister, Tara; and his maternal and paternal grandparents.
Loved by his family, Neil is survived by his father, Edward G. “Ted” McNamara, Jr. and stepfather, Dennis O. Moorehead, of Saint Louis, MO; his brother, Edward G. “Ted” (Barbie) McNamara, III; and nephew Colman Edward Ray McNamara, of Ann Arbor, MI; and his loving aunts, uncles, cousins, and their children and grandchildren.
Neil was a graduate of South Grand Prairie High School, Grand Prairie, TX and attended Holy Cross College, South Bend, IN; Texas A&M University, College Station, TX; and Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX. In school, he excelled in his studies and shined in several competitive sports, principally football and powerlifting, for which he received recognition.
Neil's working career was in the restaurant and customer service industries. As a sous-chef, he loved to recreate recipes using untraditional ingredients and seasonings. If asked, he would tell and demonstrate to you that "his pizza" was the GREATEST!
Neil was an avid sports fan of the University of Notre Dame; the Dallas Cowboys; the Saint Louis Rams; the Saint Louis Blues; and the Saint Louis Cardinals. He regularly outwitted the sports odds-makers and often scored a return on his investments.
Though Neil considered himself a loner, he was a committed and gracious friend to those who would put forth the effort to know him well. As a child and in his adult life, he enjoyed exploring his environment and sought to understand his community and its people. He easily found beauty in the smaller circumstances of life and in the artistry of God's creations. His deeper insight was often reflected in his photography.
Love of his family, and its history and achievements, was very important to Neil. He was a caring person and special to us all. We miss him.
Funeral Arrangements by
Slattery Funeral Home
40 Pleasant Street
Marlborough, MA 01752
When
Celebration of Neil's Life/ Funeral Services
-Thursday
-November 2nd, 2023
-10:30 am
Where
St. Luke the Evangelist Cemetery
Westborough, MA
Reception
Thursday, November 2nd, 2023
11:45am
Tavolino Italian Gourmet Restaurant
33 E Main Street
Westborough, MA
MEMORIALS
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Neil's name to: Trinity Episcopal Church Saint Louis Food Pantry,
Saint Louis, MO
at
www.TrinityCWE.org; or to the charity of choice.