Person:William McNeill (8)

orignally born as Guy Sanders McNeill, at home, but always called Billy, he changed his name officially to William Elmer (maybe when signing up for the military service).

cremated, no burial or memorial service. Ashes scattered in memorial rose garden in Sebastopol CA with those of his sisters, Thelma and Mabel.

Medical history: kidney stones offf and on beginning 1956; diabetes, 1990+; macular degeneration 1994; allegic/sensitive to cholorine, glucophage; atrial fibrillation 8/5/2003; skin cancers

Notes from Marsha Baker "Occ: Bill was named Guy Sanders McNeill on his birth certificate, but was always called "Bill". As a young adult he legally changed his name to William Elmer. Bill was in the Merchant Marines during WWII, was a member of the State Police and worked for many years as a psychiatric technitian until his retirement, from the Sonoma Developmental Center and Mendocino State Hospital, Betty also worked many years as a psychiatric technitian at Mendocino State Hospital, until her retirement due to injuries on the job. They lived in Ukiah for over 20 years before moving to Kenwood CA. Both now enjoy travelling in their trailer around the USA and Canada, making their home base in Kenwood in the summer months and Yuma AZ in the winter months."

Notes from Maggie McNeill They lived in Potter Valley 1947-48, where they farmed, with Bill doing odd jobs for neighbors and buying and selling animals at auction. In 1950 they lived in Ukiah where he went to work for Masonite and helped to form the labor union there. In 1954, they briefly separated, then reunited and moved to Alexander Valley, near Healdsburg and Oren and Thelma Ketcham. They farmed prunes on that ranch and one on Chalk Hill Road till summer 1955 when they returned to Ukiah. Both then began working at Mendocino State Hospital and trained there as psychiatric technitians, a newly developed specialty for care of people with mental disorders.

After they had been in Kenwood for some time, they had Thelma come and stay with them, providing hospice care for her at the end of her life.

After the death of Betty's father, they bought a house in Yuma and retired from trailering, traveling instead with groups. Eventually, with health deterioration, they moved back to Kenwood, remodeling the house to fit their needs.

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Mcneill.FTW.

   Date of Import: Jan 14, 2011

2. ↑ Newspaper Ukiah CA about William E McNeill.

   newspaper clipping, Ukiah paper, no date or other info. Copy in my file. "Youth Shows the Courage We Must Have Friends are Proud of "Billie E. McNeill Today Volunteers 3 Times Went in To Danger Zones When Needed Now at Sea" headlines for the article.