HAMPSTEAD — It is with great sadness we share the peaceful passing of Kathleen Wright McNeil, age 52 on September 6, 2024, in Hampstead, NC surrounded by her loved ones.
Kathleen fought her 2 ½ year battle with cancer with courage and strength. Through all the treatments, pain and suffering, she never lost her love for life, family or friends. Cancer couldn’t steal her joy and dignity.
Kathleen is the daughter of the late Peggy Ann Wright and James Keith Wright. She was born on March 24, 1972, in Manassas, VA. When she was 2 years old, Kathleen’s family moved to Hampstead, NC where she lived until 1982 when her family moved to Cary, NC then to Pittsboro, NC in 1984.
Kathleen graduated from Northwood High School in 1990 and later received her BA in Education from St. Andrews University followed by her master’s in counseling from Campbell University. She loved her students, teaching and counseling. She encouraged her students to be kind, brave, and the best that they could be.
In 2004, Kathleen married the love of her life, Timothy McNeill in Gatlinburg, TN. They loved to eat oysters and walk on the beach together. She enjoyed following Tim’s band and being their biggest fan. It’s all about the bass!
Kathleen’s most valued treasure is her children: Daniel Earl Kuster, Jr. and Rachel Ann McNeill. She was so proud of them and loved being their mother. She used every moment as a teaching opportunity to instill in them the morals and values of how to be the best version of themselves. She knew they both had the potential to do great things and inspired them to reach for the stars.
Kathleen found joy in the simple pleasures of life. She loved to laugh and had an infectious smile, she loved eating at different restaurants (especially ones that served blue crab), she loved anything sweet, books, picnics, flowers, and her beloved Jack Russell terrier, Daisy. Kathleen invited family and friends to celebrate her birthday each year for either a tea party at Mrs. Lacey’s in Sanford or a luncheon at the Belted Goat in Fearrington Village.
Kathleen was blessed to have wonderful friends whose constant love and support filled her heart with overwhelming joy. She felt the most at peace on the beach watching the sunrise or sunset. Her legacy of kindness, grace, and love will live on in the hearts of those who knew her.
She is survived by her adored husband, Timothy McNeill of Mamers, her treasured children Daniel Kuster of Sanford and Rachel McNeill of the home, her father, Keith Wright of Hampstead, her beloved siblings Gary Blankenship (Etta) of Pittsboro, Dennis Blankenship of Hampstead, Suzie Lee (Ken) of Hampstead and Deborah Ennis (Dempsey) of Dunn, her precious nieces & nephews-Grant Emerson, Alicia Blankenship, Jessie Murphy, Brandon Ennis, Heather Johnson, Kyle Ennis, Kyle Lemons and Kayli Scott, beloved great nieces & nephews, aunts and cousins in West Virginia and Georgia and her priceless friendships with Katie Clutter and Heather Miles.
A celebration of life will be held on Saturday September 21, 2024 at 4 p.m. at Carolina Lakes Clubhouse 91 Clubhouse Dr, Sanford, NC, 27332.
