Thomas Russell O'Neal

Russell O'Neal

Thurman Russell O'Neal was born September 15th, 1945 to the late Thurman Lestie and Minnie Aline (Mossman) O'Neal in Dudley, Missouri and passed away December 28th, 2025 at the age of 80 years old.

Russell graduated from Puxico highs school and went on to join the Army. He met and married Nellie R. Tibbs and they married on December 24th, 1982, Nellie passed away in 2005 and he survived the home. Russell worked in the maintenance department at Briggs and Stratton and retired in 2010. He loved golf, bowling, fishing, hunting, horse breeding which he had done for 50+ years. He enjoyed farm life and being outside, spending time with family and spoiling his grandchildren. Thank you to Aspire Senior Living of Advance for taking care of him for the past three years, he will be greatly missed.

Surviving family include: two sons, Bryan O'Neal of San Mateo, California, George (Piroska) Tibbs of Rutherfordton, North Carolina and two daughters, Carmen Tibbs of Clarksville, Tennessee, Tracy (David) Powers of Columbus, Indiana. Five grandchildren: Jessica (Michael) Coatney of North Carolina, Jamie Tibbs (Art Chandler) of Wisconsin, Merideth (Caleb) Leonard of North Carolina, Haddon Powers of Indiana, Grace (Jonathan) Hartke of New Mexico and eleven great grandchildren. He has one brother, Gene (Dorthy) O'Neal of Puxico, Missouri.

Russell was preceded in death by his parents, Thurman and Minnie, his wife, Nellie, one son, Adam O'Neal, one grandson, Jason Tibbs, one brother, Freeman O'Neal, six sisters, Loreda Jansen, Fernie Julius, Lois Caldwell, Helen Voss, Shirley Bowlin, Virginia Spears.

Visitation will be held Friday, January 2nd, 2026 at 10:00 am at the Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Puxico, Missouri.

Funeral Service will be held, Friday, January 2nd, 2026 at 12:00 pm at the Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Puxico, Missouri.

                   www.watkinsfuneralhome.com