ROBERT MARK MCNEECE
Aug. 4, 1937 – May 10, 2023
Robert Mark McNeece left us on May 1 0, 2023. Like a good book, he was not ready for the story to end, but he was at peace knowing that the Lord, his brother Paul, and the rest of his family were waiting for him with open arms.
By most people' s standards, Bob' s tale was a good one. He was born on August 4,1937, the fourth and final child of John Bernard and Estelle. He was preceded in death by his siblings, Virginia, Bud, and Paul. His parents were closing in on the golden years of their lives and spent much of their time traveling and therefore, little Bobbie did not have a tremendous amount of parental guidance. He became a bit of a hell raiser in his younger years (one teacher called him, h er little bubble of trouble), but even as a youngster, he had an entrepreneurial flair, starting with his paper route in t he 9 th grade.
Bob was a performer. He was the lead in his junior class play and was also the president of the high school band in his senior year, playing the trombone. But his greatest love was to entertain an audience with his public speaking s kills a nd stories. These skills would serve him well later in life.
In his junior year of high school, Bob met the love of his life, Jo Collins, and in his senior year, they ran off to Yuma and tied the knot. By 23, Bob and Betty Jo had four kids together: Robert, Angela, Caroline, and Mary Kathrine. Bob never finished high school, and after he got married, he had a difficult time finding a job. He was told by many that they could not hire him without a high school diploma. He went to work for his brother Bud, and then he went to work for Union Sugar. In 1959, after a year at Union Sugar, he joined h is brother Paul in a new endeavor.
McNeece and McNeece was started by Bob's dad in 1919. It was the second service station in t own. That was the beginning of 104 years of petroleum marketing for the McNeece family. In 1948, John B. sold his interest in that station to a cousin who had been a partner since the early 1920s. In the same year, Bob' s brother Bud purchased the Shell Oil distributorship in El C entro. Bud sold the distributor ship to Paul and Bob in 1959. McNeece Bros. Oil Co. was born. Bob and Paul were inseparable; they were more than just business partners, brothers, or friends. The combination of the three relationships made for a very special bond. They each had their own strong qualities that made for a successful business. Bob's special skill was marketing, and Paul was the numbers guru. Together, the brothers grew the business, with locations in El Centro, Yuma, and Brawley.
Paul retired in 1996 and Bob in 1999, and at that point Robert a nd M ike (Paul's son) took the reins, Mike in El Centro and Robert in Yuma. In 2017, Mike's son, Patrick, joined t he company. All three have continued the legacy. In 1959, McNeece Bros employed a total of two, Bob and Paul. Today, it takes 70 people to serve the petroleum needs of farmers, industrial accounts, municipalities, and Shell branded stations in both the Imperial and Yuma Valleys.
Just l ike the business has grown, so has Bob's family. It has grown from 2 to 52, with 11 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren. They are spread across the United States, as far as West Virginia and as close as Yuma.
Bob always felt that it was important to g ive back to his community and to pass those values on to his family. The Lions Club was close to his heart and he established many friend ships there that he treasured. Bob had lifetime memberships in the Lions, Elks, and Navy League, and was on the boards of the Salvation Army a nd Highway 86 Committee. He was vice president of the Chamber of Commerce as well as president of the Central Valley Medical Foundation. Bob was also on the Shell Jobber Council.
Even in retirement, Bob's business was his passion, his hobby, and his life. He spent a part of practically every business morning at the El Centro office. Robert, Betty Jo, Angela, Caroline, and Mary Kathrine send a very special thank you to Mike and Patric kM cNeecef or spending apart of their morning including Bob (our d ad) in a daily roundup of business operations.
We also thank Larry Adamek for offering daily communion during Bob's hospice journey to provide for his spiritual health.
You are welcome to join us to celebrate Bob's life on June 10, 2023, at St. Mary's Catholic Church. The celebration will start with the rosa ry at 9:30 am, mass at 10 am, and lunch immediately following the service. Bob's burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to the Betty Jo McNeece Receiving Home on 315 W. McCabe Road ., El Centro, CA 92243; St. Mary's Catholic Church, 795 S. La Brucherie Rd., El Centro, CA 92243; or St. Anne's Maternity Home, 155 Occidental, Los Angeles, CA 90026.