Birth date: Nov 20, 1951 Death date: Sep 1, 2019
Edward Lee (Eddie) McNeal, 67, passed away Sunday, September 1, 2019 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. He was born November 20, 1951 in Fayetteville to Charles and Ruth (Smith) McNeal. He is preceded in death by his parents. Eddie parti Read Obituary
I grew up working with Eddie at the dealership, its been a long time since I have heard from him and just found this page about his passing! I remember working for him and his father, great people! I learned a lot from both of them. Very sorry to hear about his passing!
My father, Jim Freeman and Eddie were friends and co-workers for most of my adult life. They both loved cars, their families and their community. Whenever I came to town to visit my parents, an important part of my visit was going with Dad to visit Eddie. They could sit, sip coffee and talk for hours. Those times are memories I’ll always treasure. Eddie was a very special dear man. Kaye Freeman Owen
Edward and Leah Smith were two of the finest people to ever walk the earth. They had no children. Eddie was named after them, and he lived up to his namesakes.
I am very saddened to hear of Eddie’s passing. I was reading today’s newspaper (9/8) and just now saw the obituary notice. My sincere condolences to the Family, and my apologies for missing his service. My Mom (Peggy Fancher) worked with Eddie at Goff-McNair for many years. I have fond and great memories of Eddie, his Dad (Charles), Mr. McNair, Doris, Bill Mahan, Frank Wages, and many others that made up the Motor Company Team! As others have said so well . . what a great business they ran!, and what great customer service they provided! . . truly one of the great “Fayetteville institutions”! of the good old days! I have lived in Mtn. Home for many years, but had kept in touch with Eddie by phone, text or visits. I was always picking his brain, about a used car or truck that I was looking at. Like everyone has mentioned, he was a walking encyclopedia of vehicle information, especially the Ford, Lincoln-Mercury products! He never failed to tell me the good-and-bad of ANY year and specific model vehicle that I asked him about! His memory and attention to detail were incredible! I honestly suspect that he had a photographic memory! During our visits, he would recall specific vehicles (models, trim level and color!) that he had purchased, sold or traded for, and usually the year and/or customer involved. On many occasions, as we sat at his desk at the Auto Plaza, he would recognize (and call out the names!) of one of his friends/customers, as he glanced out the window and saw their car quickly pass by on Hwy 71B!! He was one of those people that I always like to bounce ideas off of, or get his thoughts about, before making decisions . . . because I valued and trusted his opinion, and his honesty! I am going to miss him!! RIP my Brother! . . . we know you’re now driving a new Lincoln, up in Heaven!!
Tracy Fancher
I married into a family that always bought cars from Eddie — the grandparents, the parents, then my husband and I. Having the metal "Goff-McNair" logo on a car was a mark of distinction in Northwest Arkansas — and I treasure the one Eddie gave me to keep.
But Eddie was more than that. He was one of the kindest, most genuine people I ever met. Anybody who was his customer was his friend, and he was always happy to see you and worried about you if he didn't.
There simply was nothing better than to get into a car conversation with Eddie — but talking about his beloved Studebakers was the best! The world is missing a wealth of knowledge with his passing — and Fayetteville will be missing a piece of its heart and history.
— Becca Martin-Brown
I met Eddie McNeal 37 years ago. Since then I bought 14 cars from him, some new, some used. But more than car sales, a friendship began that has endured ever since. Every now and then we would get together and talk...mostly about people we knew in common and cars we liked or did not. Eddie remembered every car he sold to me, and to all his other customers as well, and tracked those vehicles’ history. His memory was amazing. He also kept track of my family. Where they were and what they were driving.
Eddie made a major contribution to our community, as a citizen, businessman and purveyor of, mostly, Lincolns and Mercurys. He was also a kind and compassionate employer. But most of all he was a friend. He will be deeply missed.
Eddie will be dearly missed by everyone that knew him. Eddie was a wonderful friend and he sold me my first Town Car in 1998 and it was one of the best cars I've ever owned.
Eddie was one of the smartest guys that I've ever met in my entire life and he had an amazing memory and knowledge of the Lincoln and Mercury brands.
Eddie can not be replaced by anyone and he worked harder for his Lincoln and Mercury customers than probably any dealer in the entire nation.
Eddie was a very generous and caring friend that did so much for others and the NWA area and always put helping others above and beyond even his own time and needs, but he wouldn't of had it any other way.
I've seen Eddie leave his full plate, after just 2 bites, and $50 cash on the table at a restaurant and jump up to quickly drive all the way to Rogers from Fayetteville to give one of his long time customers a jump start on her 15 year old Lincoln after she frantically called him on his personal cell phone, so she wouldn't miss her doctor's appointment. Eddie believed in and practiced service and care above and beyond, even after the sell for as long as the customer owned the car, even if that customer bought that car from him 22 years ago.
He provided that old fashioned care and service that you just can't find anymore.
Eddie was always a great listener for anyone who needed to talk and I have never heard him say anything bad about anybody. He was truly an example of what we should all strive to be.
Eddie will be missed, but he is in a far better place now and we will always have our happy memories of him and every time I see a Lincoln or Mercury, I'll think about him, especially the many that still run around in NWA with the Goff-McNair emblem on the trunk.
No one will ever replace our Eddie!!!
See you again someday Eddie!!!
