Rev. Fr. L. Philip McNeil

The Rev. Fr. Lewis Philip McNeil, 90, passed away Saturday, November 13, 2021, at his home in Leicester.

Fr. McNeil was born June 14, 1931, in Miami, FL to Louis Philip and Jennie Louise Aspley McNeil, a pioneer Miami family. He attended Florida State University before serving four years in the US Navy. He then joined the Jesuits as a novitiate after which he attended seminary at Notre Dame in New Orleans. He was ordained as a priest December 21, 1963, by Bishop Coleman Carroll.

In addition to serving as a priest in the Archdiocese of Miami, he also worked as a school counselor with the Miami-Dade Public School System and helped develop Miami’s computer system. Fr. McNeil retired to Buncombe County in 2001.

He is survived by his adopted son, John M. Chorgo.

A Funeral Mass will be con-celebrated by the Rev. Fr. Patrick Cahill and Rev. Fr. John M. Pagel at St. Eugene Catholic Church at 12:30 pm on Monday, November 22.

Burial will follow at the Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Catholic Social Services, 50 Orange Street, Asheville, NC 28801, or to St. Joseph Seminary, Diocese of Charlotte, 22 Arctus Avenue, Mt. Holly, NC 28120.

Groce Funeral Home on Patton Avenue is assisting with the arrangements.