James Richard Neal

Portland - James "Jim" R. Neal, 67, died on Saturday, October 27, 2018. Jim was born in Morris, Illinois, on July 11, 1951, the son of the late Harold and Charlotte (Castle) Neal. Jim grew up in Illinois and attended local schools. In high school he was a great athlete playing both football and wrestling. He was named the most outstanding boy of the class of 1969. In the fall of 1969 he attended college at Harvard University in Cambridge, MA. His summer employment included working as a camp counselor at Camp Monadnock in Jaffery, NH. Reading was a passion of Jim's. He was known to start and finish a book in the same day. After college Jim worked at a bookstore, called the Paperback Booksmith in Boston. Jim then moved from Boston to Peaks Island to start his family. After moving to Maine, Jim became a taxi driver, a job he thoroughly enjoyed. He loved to be meet new people and talk to them about their experiences. In his spare time Jim wrote poems, his own book "Rehab The Novel," and everything in between. Jim always enjoyed playing Cribbage for hours with friends and family. He will be remembered for his love of reading, writing, meeting new people, and being a New England sports fan, especially the Boston Red Sox. Jim is survived by his son, Cooper Neal and his wife Erin of NH; three brothers, Jeff Neal and his wife Susan of IL, Dale Neal and his wife Crystal of CA, Jack Neal and his wife Cheryl of IL; Jim's future granddaughter; and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and nephews. A Funeral service will be held at 11AM on Friday, November 2, 2018, at the Conroy-Tully Walker Funeral Home, 172 State Street, Portland. To view Jim's memorial page, or to share an online condolence, please visit www.ConroyTullyWalker.com Memorial contributions may be made in Jim's memory to National Alliance on Mental Illness, NAMI Maine, 1 Bangor St., Augusta, ME 04330-4701.