Huel Sampson Neal

Huel Sampson Neal, age 91, of Crossville, Tennessee, passed away on December 13, 2022, at Cumberland Medical Center.

He was born on January 18, 1931, in Byrdstown, Tennessee, son of the late Luther Neal, Sr. and Melva Ann Neal.

Huel was a farmer and of the Baptist Faith.

He is survived by his sons, Charles Neal and wife Rhonda, Gary Neal and wife Kathy, and Mike Neal and wife Lisa; daughter, Carol Carney and husband Lee; 15 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren; brothers, Luther Neal, Jr. and Leon Neal; and sister, Ruth McCoy.

In addition to his parents, Huel is preceded in death by his wife, Nancy Hattie (McCoy) Neal; son, Larry Neal; and daughter, Linda Tabor.

Huel Neal was a man of humble beginnings, marrying the love of his life, Nancy Hattie McCoy, in 1948 when he was only seventeen years of age.  By the time he was 23, he was the father of four children.  He was an amazing provider for his family, doing whatever he could to earn an income.  In the mid-1950s he would drive a school bus and install TV antennas during the day.  At one time, and for a short while, he opened his own auto repair garage.  He was an entrepreneur and visionary, a diligent hard worker.  He was always looking for a better way to provide for his family that had grown to six children by 1960.  Around this time, he opened his own TV repair shop and soon after, Neal’s Grocery located on the corner of West Avenue and Lantana Road.  He also built Cumberland County Speedway on his Potato Farm Road property, later relocating it to Hwy 70 in the Parson’s Ridge area.  Always looking to expand his horizons, in 1965 he bought and operated a small dairy herd of twenty cows on a rented farm.  Over the coming years, because of his hard work and home-grown work force of children, his dairy farming endeavors grew into one of the largest herds in Cumberland County.  He had found his passion and this career spanned more than five decades.  He once won the “Farmer of the Year” award.

He lived life to the fullest.  Both he and Hattie traveled to all 48 contiguous states as well as Alaska and Hawaii.  For years, every October he traveled to Colorado to hunt elk and mule deer.  He also enjoyed hunting wild hogs on Catoosa and surrounding areas.  In the 1970s he acquired his pilot’s license and bought his own airplane.  He was a good pilot and loved taking everyone for a ride in the sky.

For many years he participated in tractor pulling, which he won the majority of the time.  This was evidenced by the many trophies he amassed for his many victories.  He once even traveled to Abingdon, VA to compete.

He was an excellent role model for his children, giving them good work ethics.  From an early age, he took his children to church and taught them the importance of a saving relationship with Jesus Christ.  He often stated that he could not have accomplished what he had except for the Lord helping him.  He loved his family, his brothers and sister, his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.  He was a good brother, a great dad, and a loving “Pa”.  He will be sadly missed in this life, but we will see him again in heaven.  We love you Dad!

Funeral Services will be  held at Bilbrey Funeral Home on Sunday, December 18, 2022 at 3:00 PM followed by burial at Green Acres Memory Gardens.  The family will recieve friends from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM prior to the funeral.