Obituary: Christopher McNeel

In 1981 he graduated from Lyle High School. The following year he joined the United States Marine Corps, where he served as an aircraft ordnance technician. He was stationed in Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Canada, and the United States. He was meritoriously promoted twice and held the rank of corporal when he was honorably discharged in 1986.

After serving as a U.S. Marine, he returned to his hometown of Lyle, where he worked the next couple of summers helping his Uncle Don and Aunt Marian, who were subcontracting to build part of the Pacific Crest Trail in the Mt. Rainier National Forest. His winters were spent working at Mt. Hood Meadows, where he developed a passion for skiing.

Chris’ first daughter, Summer, was born in 1987, followed shortly by his son Tobiah, and then daughter Marnette. Chris became a corrections deputy for the Wasco County Sheriff’s office in 1990, where he was instrumental in establishing a home detention program through the Wasco County jail. In the mid-'90s he was promoted to patrol deputy, where he worked concurrently with the Sherman County Sheriff’s Office. For several years during this time, he was also the school resource officer for Wasco County.

Chris met Andrea Eagy in 1998 and they were married two years later. His fourth child, son Maxwell, was born in 2002. Chris spent five years on the Mid-Columbia Interagency Narcotics Team (MINT) and in 2004 was promoted to sergeant. He worked major crimes investigations for several years before he was promoted and served as chief deputy in 2016 until his retirement in 2018. Never one to sit still for long, Chris joined the Wasco County Planning Department as code compliance officer and later as assistant planner.

Chris had an amazing zest for life. He had the personality and natural charisma to befriend anyone he met. Evidence of his integrity, character, and faith was illustrated in his unwavering love for Jesus and for his family. Chris’ depth of knowledge in the scriptures was remarkable and lent itself to the deep connections he made with people. With a fierce love of the outdoors, Chris found great joy in spending time in nature with family. He loved to snowboard, surf, and paddleboard, and he enjoyed spending family time in the summer at the river or the coast. Pacific City, in particular, held great charm; you could find him on the beach, cold beer in hand, with a view of surfers, Cape Kiwanda, and Haystack Rock on the horizon.

Chris will be deeply missed by his wife Andrea and his children, Summer Bodolay, Tobiah McNeel, Marnette (Mathew) Melton, and Maxwell McNeel; his grandchildren, Maynard, Genevieve, Hannah, Roxene, Willow, Elsie, and Odinn; his parents, Frank (Theresa) McNeel, and stepfather Keith Woods; brother Adam McNeel; and stepbrothers Kevin and Kurt Woods and Brian and Kevin Scattergood. He was preceded in death by his loving mother, Roxene Woods, and his three sisters, René Smith, Monique Myers, and Jennifer Heldstab.

A celebration of life will be held at Covenant Christian Church at 2630 E. 18th St. in The Dalles on Saturday, April 6 at 3 p.m. Chris had a heart for children. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the Shriners Hospitals for Children.