Neill Valdes, M.D., age 84 of Mt. Juliet, TN, went home to be with the Lord on Friday, June 14th, 2024, at home with his loving wife, Diann, by his side.
Neill’s surviving family includes his loving wife, Diann; daughter, Becky MacFarlane (Chris) and their sons, Chase, Conal and Bryce; son, Wesley Valdes, M.D. (Johanna Valdes, M.D) and their daughter, Mina; daughter, Wendy Cooley and her sons, Kyle and Tyler; brother-in-law, John Richardson (Amy). He was preceded in death by his son-in-law, Kevin Cooley; his parents; and other relatives.
Neill was born on Wednesday, January 3rd, 1940, and was raised in Nashville, IL.
He married Kathryn Diann Richardson on Saturday, June 6th, 1964. They had just celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary where all their children and grandchildren were there to celebrate with them. He was a long-time member of Murdale Baptist Church in Carbondale, IL.
After graduating from the Community High School in Nashville, IL, he attended Greenville College in Greenville IL, graduating with majors in both Chemistry and Biology. He received his Medical Degree from Washington University Medical School, in St. Louis, MO, followed by an internship and fellowship at St. Lukes Hospital in St. Louis, MO.
In 1967, Neill was drafted into the Navy and was sent to Camp Pendleton, CA, as a physician for the Marine Corps. He worked at the Naval hospital there until he was sent to Vietnam for a year attached to the Marines. After his 2 years of service, he completed a 4-year residency in Orthopedic Surgery at Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga, TN. In 1973, Neill and Diann moved to Carbondale, IL, with their family where he was an Orthopedic Surgeon for 30 years, retiring in 2002. They lived in Carbondale, IL. until 2008 and then moved to Mt. Juliet, TN.
A devoted Christian, a loving husband and father, and a wonderful grandfather, Neill was a dedicated family man. He had a great sense of humor, was honest and fun-loving and had many friends throughout the years. Keeping his word was everything.
Neill was blessed with so many talents and credited God for each of them. He could do or learn to do almost anything he set his mind to. From an early age he was trained to be a classical pianist, and over the years taught himself how to play many other instruments.
He had a beautiful singing voice and loved to sing, both solos and with the church choir, and a Gospel quartet. He loved his bible study time and enjoyed teaching college and adult bible classes. Neill was a very good baseball, softball, ping pong, and tennis player, but his favorite pastime was woodworking. An avid woodworker, his most loved woodworking was wood turning.
The Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, June 22nd, 2024, at 03:00 p.m. in the chapel of Sellars Funeral Home at Mt. Juliet. Interment with Military Honors will follow at Mt. Juliet Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends on Saturday, June 22nd from 01:00 p.m. until service time at 03:00 p.m.
Memorial Contributions in honor of Neill’s name can be made to Murdale Baptist Church: 2701 West Main St, Carbondale, IL 62901.
Arrangements by Sellars Funeral Home at Mt. Juliet, 2229 N. Mt. Juliet Road, Mt. Juliet, TN 37122, 615-758-5459, obituary line 615-758-8818, www.sellarsfuneralservices.com
For more obituaries visit https://wilsoncountysource.com/obituaries/
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