Neill Wilkerson

James Neill Wilkerson, U.S. Army, Col. Ret., passed away on Monday, May 16, 2016 at his home in Center Point, Texas. He was 76 years old. \r\n \r\nNeill Wilkerson was born outside of Tyler, Texas to Vida and Cecil Wilkerson on December 17, 1939.\r\n \r\nAs a young man, Neill studied at Tyler Junior College, receiving an AA in Engineering, then earned degrees in Business and Law from the University of Texas at Austin.\r\n \r\nCol. Wilkerson's military career began when he followed his older brother, Biff, by joining the Navy Reserve at age 17. After five years in the Navy, he transferred to the Texas Army National Guard where he was called up for the Berlin crisis, and eventually ordered to Officer Candidate School in the Artillery and Missile School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. His military studies continued through JAG school completing nine more law courses over the following years. He is one of the few lawyers in the U.S. who has a Masters in Law.\r\n \r\nNeill was a laughing, engaging man who saw humor in everything around him. His outlook on life cost him many push-ups in the beginning of his military career because he couldn't "wipe that smile off" his face. Through the years of his military career, he became a decorated Vietnam veteran, serving overseas from 1970-71. He served his country proudly as an Artillery Officer, JAG officer, Assistant Professor of Law at West Point, military trial judge and appellate judge.\r\n \r\nOnce the Colonel retired from active and reserve duty in 1999, he began a second life completing his bucket list: traveling, building things, flipping houses, and dancing around the house at 6:00 in the morning. He traveled the entire U.S. with his wife and dog in a fifth wheel between rounds of traveling the world.\r\n \r\nHe climbed Angkor Wat in Cambodia; walked Machu Picchu in Peru; and ate piranha in the Amazon jungles. Neill took thousands of pictures of 4,000-year old monuments in China. He refused to clamber aboard a swinging bridge across a huge Chinese cliffside, and he boated the Yangtze River before it was dammed. Neill marveled at the running lava in Hawaii, and walked up the ice floes in Alaska. He played with iguanas in Mexico; zip lined in Honduras; ate alligator sandwiches in Thailand; and hugged 18-year old Vietnamese men who were guarding his old American airbase in South Vietnam. As a result of his travels, Neill could say he was in Japan seven times.\r\n \r\nHe most loved working with the Navajo Dine at Sage Memorial Hospital in Ganado, Arizona, first as a Carpenter, then as a Horseback Therapist. With thanks to Georgetown Sertoma, a volunteer organization dedicated to hearing disabilities, Neill brought computers to Sage, helping that fledgling hearing program to enter the computer world. Neill's Native American blood (Cherokee and Choctaw) was strong. He felt a spiritual connection with all First Americans, both in the U.S. and Canada.\r\n \r\nNeill Wilkerson was preceded in death by his parents, a younger sister, Gail Wilkerson and one step-grandson, Robert Zamecki.\r\n \r\nHe is survived by his beloved wife of 24 years, Cal; his two blessed sons, Cody Pickens Wilkerson and wife Patty of Crystal Beach, TX; Dwight Douglas Wilkerson and wife Cyndi of Louisville, KY; a step-daughter, Janet Zamecki, and her husband Tim Hesla of San Francisco, CA; sister Jane White of Fort Worth; and brother Cecil, Jr. (aka Biff) and wife Lotus of Mt. Shasta, CA. Neill loved and held close to his heart nine living grandchildren, Bethany, Cameron, John, Peter, Nathaniel, Michael, Maria, Elizabeth and Catherine; and two great grandsons, Collin and Nathan; plus many wonderful nephews, nieces and grandnephews and grandnieces.\r\n \r\nCelebration of life service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 28, 2016, at Grimes Funeral Chapels, Kerrville, TX. Officiating will be Reverend Jim McClain of Laurel Heights Methodist Church in San Antonio. \r\n \r\nNeill was a decent man who ended his life in the faith and grace of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Those who loved him are consoled by the truth expressed in one of Neill's favorite scriptures: "Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty .... With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation."\r\n \r\nMemorials may be given to Lackland Fisher House, 1445 Foster Avenue, Building 3865, Lackland AFB, TX 78236.\r\n \r\nNeill's immediate family wishes to thank Dr. Robert Wozniak first for being his Cardiologist for 20 years and second, for being his friend. We also thank Dr. Ernest Haeusslein and his wonderful medical team.