Mr. Gayle "Ed" McNeil

Gayle Edward McNeil “Ed”, 86, of Trenton, Michigan passed away on July 26, 2025, surrounded by his loving family. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Veronica “Ronnie”, his three daughters Laurie (Richard) Schwandt, Deborah (Tracy) Cleland and Brenda McNeil (Deb St. Pierre), his grandchildren Carissa (David) Seog, Candice (Adam) McClain, Amanda (Michael) Clark, Kyle (Kimberly) Cleland, Brooke (Christopher) Halsey and great grandchildren Avah, Connor, Clare, Adalyn & Adriana. He is also survived by his two sisters Mary Tokarz and Dawn (Dan) Olrich as well as many nieces and nephews.

Ed was born on December 1, 1938 in Flat Rock, Michigan to Vaughn and Ruth McNeil.

Ed graduated from Flat Rock High School in 1956. He went on to study at the Detroit Barber College and began working as an apprentice at Mike’s Barber Shop in Trenton. In 1968, Ed made the bold move to buy the business and that’s when Ed’s Barber Shop was established, serving the city of Trenton for 38 years.

While attending Barber College, Veronica worked for a tax service in the same building. When their eyes met, it was love at first sight. They were married on January 27, 1962 and shared a life together for 63 years.

As a prominent businessman in the city, Ed sponsored several Trenton Hockey Association teams as well as many bowling teams over the years.

Ed was a huge sports enthusiast. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, bowling, playing softball and golf. In high school, he was a very talented athlete, especially on the basketball court. When Ed’s daughters played sports in high school and college, he was always in the bleachers showing his support as their biggest fan!

When Ed and Ronnie retired to their home in Lake Isabella, they became members of Mt. Pleasant Community Church. Ed truly enjoyed serving as an usher, helping with Vacation Bible School and serving senior luncheons at the Church.

Ed and Veronica enjoyed spending the winters in Destin, Florida with their dear friends. They also loved to travel, seeing places such as Hawaii, Alaska, several different states throughout the United States as well as the Caribbean.

Ed especially loved spending time with his family. Each year when summer break began, he would map out the annual camping trip up north. The two favorite go-to places were Ludington State Park and Interlochen State Park. Oh, how the campfire stories would echo throughout the parks! There were also destinations out west from Yellowstone National Park, Mt. Rushmore, the Badlands and Wisconsin Dells to down south in the Smokey Mountains and Kentucky Caverns.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Vaughn and Ruth McNeil, his brother Calvin McNeil and his nieces Danette Sharpe and Tammy Barabe.

Memorial donations in Ed’s memory may be directed to the Parkinson's Foundation or a Hospice facility of the donor's choice.