Phyllis Marie Dollar McNeil

During the early morning hours of Thursday, October 22, 2026, Phyllis Marie Dollar McNeil, 84, of Lansing, North Carolina, passed away unexpectedly. Her family is heartbroken by her loss and finds comfort in the faith that sustained her throughout her life.

Born February 13, 1942, in Jefferson, North Carolina, Phyllis was the daughter of Garland Alton and Margaret Beatrice Shatley Dollar. She grew up surrounded by family, alongside her sisters and brother. As a teenager, she met John Albert “Johnny” McNeil, and with a little encouragement from her mother, the two began dating. They married on August 31, 1957, in Wilkes County, beginning a marriage that lasted 69 years.

Together, Phyllis and Johnny raised three children, who remained at the center of her world. She was a determined, fiercely supportive mother who took great pride in their lives. When her children were in school, she pursued her own education, earning a bachelor’s degree from Appalachian State University. She later taught in Ashe County Public Schools and earned a master’s degree from Western Carolina University, all while caring for her family.

Her love of Christ was with her throughout her life, and she carried that faith and devotion in all of her struggles and triumphs. She poured that love into all her family and friends and even strangers.

Phyllis made her home a place where people wanted to gather. She loved decorating for the holidays, and she was an extraordinary cook who showed her love through meals made for family and friends. There was always something happening at her house, especially when everyone came together for a holiday.

She had a lively sense of humor and a playful, sometimes mischievous streak that her grandchildren knew well. She adored them and loved making them laugh, whether it was playing jokes with a whoopee cushion in the grocery store or finding another way to turn an ordinary outing into a memory. She called her family “honey,” prayed for them, and made sure they knew how deeply they were loved.

Phyllis loved fashion, shopping, and a good pair of new shoes. Red and purple were among her favorite colors, and Belk was a favorite stop. More than once, she found too many items that she liked and had to find a place to hide the shopping bags from Johnny. She also enjoyed collecting antiques and period glassware, and she loved fixing hair at the beauty shop.

Her love of dogs was another important part of her life. She was a knowledgeable and respected dog breeder, known for raising quality puppies that found homes throughout the surrounding states. She also treasured yearly beach trips with her daughter and granddaughters. Whether she was cooking, shopping, dancing, telling a joke, or spending time with the people she loved, Phyllis brought her own unmistakable spirit to it.

In addition to her parents, Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents-in-law, Jones and Kada McNeil; her brother, Jack Dollar; Eula Mae Dollar; Kathleen and Elden Ashley; Geneva and Buster Black; Shirley and Jay Eller; Josephine and Joe Hoosier; and her brothers-in-law, Bob Blevins and Ralph Bare.

She is survived by her husband of 69 years, John Albert McNeil of the home; two sons, Elder Kenneth and Rose McNeil of Greenville, North Carolina, and Tony and Eve McNeil of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; one daughter, Michelle and David VanHoy of Jefferson, North Carolina; eight grandchildren; Suzie Farrington (Charles), Sarah Handy (David), Carrie McNeil (Sarah), Kim McNeil, Megan Lyle, Molly Lyle, Ken McNeil (Brittany), and Hannah Billings (Aaron) and six great-grandchildren. Also surviving are her sisters-in-law, Vita Blevins and Edith Bare of Jefferson, and her brother-in-law, Bradley and Pat McNeill of West Jefferson.

The family will receive friends on Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Boone Family Funeral Home in West Jefferson. Funeral services will be held Sunday, October 25, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. in the Boone Family Funeral Home Chapel, officiated by D. David VanHoy. The family will receive friends on Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 6:00-8:00 PM at Boone Family Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Ashelawn Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Dysphonia International 300 Park Blvd, Suite 345, Itasca, IL 60143, the American Heart Association PO Box 840692, Dallas, TX 75284-0692 or the Ashe County Humane Society 1400 Mt Jefferson Rd. Suite 7, West Jefferson, NC 28694.

The McNeil family is being served by the Reins-Sturdivant funeral home of Independence in conjunction with Boone Family funeral home in West  Jefferson, NC.