James "Coby" Neill

James Coby Neill (“Coby”), husband, loving father of 3, grandfather of 5, and American folk artist, passed away in the early hours on Thursday, April 15, 2021. After a 13-year battle with colon cancer, he passed away peacefully in his home in Ozark, surrounded by adoring family. He was 64. The son of Bayne Vincent and Dorothy Jane Neill, Coby was born in Chicago Heights, Illinois on April 19, 1956. He is survived by two brothers – Jonathan Rawlings Neill and Randi Blaine Neill. As a child, Coby enjoyed baseball and art. He started wood carving at age 8 and continued through college where he received a degree in sculpture from Northern Illinois University. After thirty years in creative advertising, folk art became his love because he saw humor in its imperfect and expressive character. Coby married Catherine Leigh McLean on May 24, 1986 and they had three children – Jacqueline Brooke Moore (Husband - Brent), Brett Coby Neill (Wife - Rebecca), and John Alexander Neill (Wife - Cristian). His five grandchildren are Hudson, Natalie, Noelle, Camdyn and Tatum. His real passions were his faith in Christ, spending time with his family and playing sports with his kids. His positivity was contagious, and he found joy in the simple things in life – reading the Bible, a bonfire, birds chirping, fall leaves, springtime trees blossoming, sunrises and sunsets. He loved to laugh, morning coffee talk, English bulldogs, a trail walk, and studying his ancestry.