Thomas J. Neal, Sr.

Mr. Thomas J. Neal, Sr., age 66, passed away Monday, August 19, 2013, at the Charles George Veterans Administration Medical Center. Mr. Neal was a native of Rapides Parish, Louisiana. He was the son of the late Patrick and Lillian Griffin Neal. He was also predeceased by his sister Sara "Sister Baby" Neal who passed earlier this year. He was a proud veteran of the U.S. Army serving 3 tours of duty in the Vietnam War. He was awarded a Purple Heart, a Bronze Star, and a Silver Star. In his earlier years, he was a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer in Texas and Louisiana, and was also involved in Rodeo activities. Later he became a chef on oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico. He studied food preparation/ cooking under Louisiana's cajun cook, the late Justin Wilson. He was a chef at local restaurants in the Asheville Area, being the Lone Star Steakhouse and Saloon and later J&S Cafeteria. He was a member of Garden of Prayer Church (formerly Johnson Memorial Church of God in Christ) on Forsythe St., Asheville. He established and operated A.L.P.S. (Alternative Living Programs & Systems for recovering addicts) Half Way House in Asheville. He was a member of NA (Narcotics Anonymous) and AA (Alcoholics Anonymous). He is survived by his son, Thomas J. "T.J." Neal Jr. of San Francisco, CA; daughters, Karen Jefferson of Louisiana, and Lillian Grace "Lily Grace" of Asheville; brothers, Charles "BoBo" Neal and Patrick "Buck" Neal, both of Alexandria, LA; sister, Debra "Sweet Pea" Brandon of Charlotte; grandson, James Neal of Asheville; and mother of his youngest daughter Lily Grace, Ramona Benight of Arden. A funeral service will be held at 12:30 p.m. Friday, Augutst 30, 2013, in the Tunnel Rd. Chapel of Groce Funeral Home. Burial will follow at 2:00 p.m. at the Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery in Black Mountain, with Military Honors conducted by the Buncombe County Veterans Council Memorial Team and the North Carolina National Guard. His family will receive friends from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Friday, August 30, prior to the service at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to From Swords to Plow Shares, 1060 Howard St., San Francisco, CA 94103.