GF mayor was loved by many

Green Forest Mayor Don McNeely died Monday, Nov. 3, in Little Rock, leaving a community in mourning.

McNeely, who was 73, was a popular figure in Green Forest both before and during his term as mayor. He served for more than a decade as a Justice of the Peace on the Carroll County Quorum Court before being elected mayor in November 2022 — receiving more than 70 percent of the vote in a race with three candidates.

McNeely’s obituary describes him as “a man of great compassion, humor, and dedication.” McNeely is survived by his wife, Kay Mc-Neely, sons Jeff Mc-Neely and Greg and wife Avery McNeely, and his grandchildren, Jagger and Cora McNeely. He is also survived by sister Vickie McNeely and brother Mike McNeely, along with Mike’s wife, Ellen.

McNeely served as president of the local chapter of Gideons and as an Awana commander, illustrating his dedication to faith and the youth.

McNeely worked for many years at Tanner Hardware in Green Forest.

“A true people person, Don volunteered his time on the first day of school helping children from their buses, and he often devoted his efforts to assisting the elderly in maintaining their homes,” his obituary says. “His love for sports, particularly golf and biking, was paralleled only by his passion for reading and inspiring others through the sharing of motivational stories.

“An avid believer in the power of community and faith, Don’s greatest passion was to spread the word of Christ and lead people in their spiritual journeys. He was a mentor and a teacher, always seeking to pass on the knowledge he gained and to uplift others with his stories.”

Tiffany James, college and career adviser at Green Forest High School, said McNeely will be deeply missed.

“Mr. Don was a personal friend of mine,” James said. “We were church members together. Any time there was anything to be done, big or small, he always showed up. He always helped. He’s pretty much part of my family. As far as school goes, I know he would come for 9-11 to speak, always at Veterans Day. This veterans assembly is going to be a lot different without him there, because he was always present. Mr. Don was just a man of integrity and service and he had a heart for God. He loved the Lord and he wanted to share the gospel with anyone and everyone.”

Green Forest police chief John Bailey said he knew McNeely for many years, getting to know him during McNeely’s time at Tanner Hardware.

As a mayor, Bailey said McNeely was exceptional.

“I couldn’t ask for a better mayor,” Bailey said. “He was always open. He always listened. He was a good, even-tempered man. It was a pleasure to work for him. He knew everybody and he was a public servant at heart.”

Jack Deaton, longtime Justice of the Peace from Holiday Island, said he and McNeely started their service on the quorum court at about the same time and worked well together.

“He was a very good guy to work with,” Deaton said. “We always, if we disagreed, we disagreed friendly and worked it out. … I can’t think of anybody that didn’t like him. He was just an all-around good guy. You’re not going to find anybody better. The Carroll County community is going to definitely miss him.”

The McNeely family will be available to visit with friends from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 15, at New Hope Fellowship Church, 601 S. Thorne Ave. in Green Forest. A memorial service for Mayor Donald Wayne McNeely will follow at 11 a.m. with Rev. Matthew Spate officiating.