Recent word has been received of the passing of Kenneth Neill, 69, of Sarasota, Fla., formerly of North Washington Street, Butler. He passed away Nov. 17.

He was born Jan. 25, 1949, and lived in Butler until he moved to Sarasota, Fla., in 1970, to find new challenges in the booming construction business.

For a number of years, he worked for a large developer who constructed infrastructure for numerous housing projects. Kenneth became skilled at working concrete in the construction of roads, sidewalks and boat basins, etc.

After working about nine years in the broiling sun, he sought indoor employment with Sarasota County fleet garage and later with the bus garage as a mechanic.

Ken got his start as a mechanic in Butler by working with his brother, Jack on his Chevelle Super Sport that they raced at the drag strip in the late 1960s.

In the fleet garage and bus garage, Ken had many opportunities to further develop his knowledge and skills as a mechanic by working on a wide variety of vehicles ranging from the library vans, to the street cleaners, to the articulated, kneeling diesel buses. Kenneth became known as a problem solver among his fellow mechanics. In August of 2018, he retired after working 30 years for Sarasota County.

In his free time, he enjoyed building things. He and his dad, John, who had retired from Butler to move to Sarasota, built a large two-door concrete block garage with lots of built-in storage and a great workbench across the back. In that garage and at the workbench, Kenneth created new furniture from recycled quality wood and other materials that he found at auctions.

On Nov. 17, 2018, Kenneth and his wife, Karen, drove from Sarasota to Nashville, Tenn., to spend the Thanksgiving holiday with her relatives. They arrived safely. However, Kenneth took a turn and died unexpectedly and suddenly.

He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Karen Crane Neill of Sarasota, Fla.; a son, Ryan Neill of North Port, Fla.; his two sisters, Dottie Delle Rauch of Morgantown, W.Va., and Mary Virginia Slusarz of Erie, Pa.; and several nieces, nephews, and grandnieces and grandnephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Virginia Neill, who previously lived in Butler and Sarasota; and his brother, Jack Neill of East Butler.

NEILL — There were no public services held for Kenneth Neill, who died Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018.Cremation services were provided by Cole and Garrett Funeral Home of White House, Tenn.