E.L. “Skip” McNeal Jr., longtime pastor of First Baptist Church in Sanger and interim minister to several Texas congregations, died July 26 in Sanger. He was 85. Born Aug. 7, 1940, at Fort Sill, Okla., to E.L. McNeal Sr. and Lorena Francis Martin McNeal, he grew up in Ada, Okla., where he graduated from Horace Mann High School. He attended East Central University in Ada, where he met Mary Lou, whom he married Aug. 2, 1963. McNeal sensed a call to ministry at age 16. After attending seminary, he began serving in ministry as a music and youth director before entering the pastorate. He served churches in Moore and Shawnee, Okla., before accepting the pastorate of First Baptist Church in Sanger, where he and Mary served for 30 years. Throughout his ministry, McNeal was known for his commitment to evangelism, discipleship, and mentoring young people. He led numerous youth ski trips that became a formative experience for generations of students and families. Following his retirement from First Baptist Sanger, he continued serving congregations as an intentional interim minister in Alpine, Huntsville, Fort Worth, and Denton. He also served as chaplain of the Sanger Lions Club and was a member of Bolivar Masonic Lodge No. 418 in Sanger. He was preceded in death by his brother, Vance McNeal, and his grandson, Clifford McNeal. He is survived by his wife of nearly 63 years, Mary McNeal of Sanger; sons Mark McNeal and his wife Kim of Highland Village, Mike McNeal and his wife Tresa of Temple, and Jeff McNeal and his wife Evie of Lewisville; brother Dick McNeal and his wife Virginia of McLoud, Okla.; sister-in-law Myrna McNeal of Shawnee, Okla.; 10 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the First Baptist Church of Sanger Foundation, which supports the church’s ongoing missions and ministry.
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