William Neil MacNeill, born in 1918, of Franklin, passed away, May 5, 2008.

Born in Lynn, Mass. He was the son of the late Neil MacNeill and Agnes English MacNeill. Bill was a retired heating and air conditioning engineer. He served in the US Air Force and US Army Air Corps during WWII and the Korean Conflict. Bill was former Mayor of Gulfport, FL, and President of Suncoast League of Cities. In 1976 he moved from Gulfport, FL, to Franklin where he was a 50 year member of the local lodge and 32nd degree Mason and also a member of the Lions Club for 50 years. Bill was a charter member of the Otto Community Development board and Macon County Planning board. He was a tutor at Macon county schools, former President of Angel Medical Auxillary and lifetime member, spent two years on Hospital board and volunteered at the Hospital for twenty plus years. Bill spent nine years on the Nominating Committee of Presbytery of WNC and was a member of Morrison Presbyterian Church.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years Barbara Beckhard MacNeill; one daughter, Judith Anne Langford and husband Joseph of Franklin, NC; six sisters; two brothers; one granddaughter, Paige Krusoe of Raleigh, NC; and three great grandchildren, Abigail, Mitchell and Isabella.

A Private Memorial Service will be held at a later date. Dr. Wendell Ligon will officiate.

Memorial donations may be made to Hospice House Foundation, PO Box 815, Franklin, NC 28744 or the Macon County Humane Society, PO Box 81, Franklin, NC 28744.

Online condolences can be made at www.maconfuneralhome.com

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