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Leslie Earl McNeil was born Feb. 21, 1933, in Powell, Wyoming to Robert and Georgia McNeil. He passed away Nov. 21, 2025 at Cody Regional Health with family present. He was 92 years old and had lived a full life.
He graduated from Cody High School in 1951and joined the Navy in 1952 serving four years. His major assignment was on the USS Pictor AF-54 Refrigeration Ship during the Korean War. His ship made tours in the Far East delivering food and dry stores in Korea and the Taiwan patrol. After his Navy service he spent a year at Northwest Community College.
Leslie saw a lot of things in his life. He got to sit on his dad’s work horses while they were being harnessed to go plow the fields, then on to small tractors to the present-day GPS run tractors. When he started farming on his own, he raised hogs to make a living. There was not much money in hogs, so he moved on to cattle. That got him into the AI (artificial insemination) of cattle in the Big Horn Basin. He built up a nice herd of his own which he grazed in the summer in the McCullough Peaks.
Leslie liked to camp and travel and he did a lot of that in his later years. Leslie loved this part of his life. While the camping and traveling were great, he was always glad to get back to Cody and his family. Home was where his heart was.
Leslie was a proud and active member of the Sage Creek Community Club, serving as a board member and officer over the years. His father, Robert McNeil, was one of the charter members in the early 1920s. He contributed time, money and labor. The same work ethic and leadership was carried on by Leslie and his children. In August of 2022 Leslie shared his knowledge of the history of the club with a state historical team. The historical team compiled a report of the club building, members, traditions, and heritage which resulted in the club being placed on the National Historical Registry.
Leslie is survived by his wife of 32 years, Vayda P. McNeil, his five children of his previous marriage to Nancy Sommers McNeil (deceased) and one stepson from his current marriage. Surviving children are Joe McNeil, Lauri McNeil, Tiger McNeil, Scott McNeil (Candy), Andy McNeil (Shelly) and stepson Troy Swope, plus 16 grandchildren and 10 greatgrandchildren. He loved his children very much and was proud of what they went on to do with their lives. He was preceded in death by his father Robert McNeil, mother Georgia McNeil and sister Jackie McNeil.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date.
Memories and condolences can be shared on Les’ memorial page at www.BallardFH.com
