Family remembers Fred McNeal as kind, caring

Fred McNeal's life was often difficult, but family members said Wednesday they will remember him as kind and caring.

The 26-year-old's body was found in a shallow grave in Ector County, Texas, on Oct. 28, and was identified Monday. Ector County Sheriff Mike Griffis said on Monday that no cause of death has been confirmed and no one had been arrested in connection with his death.

McNeal's grandmother, Grace Fair of Portales, said he had lived in Odessa after he was released from prison — where he was serving time for a parole violation related to a drug addiction — in July.

Her grandson's difficulties began when he attended public school in Portales and Floyd, she said.

"He's got a history of bullying. People bullied him to death. I have records, I have all kinds of paperwork. When he was in school, they did a hate list on him," she said. "That's where all the kids sign a legal pad saying what they dislike about my grandson."

After he turned 18, Fair said her grandson developed a problem with drugs that took him in and out of prison.

"He spent a lot of time in lockdown. I don't know how the boy survived it all," she said.

However, she also remembered a kind young man with a competitive streak.

"He really liked to be in competition with everybody. The people that knew Fred liked him," she said. "He was one that if a girl needed something, he would see that the girl got it. ... He was a giving person."

Fair said she has heard from numerous people in recent days who recounted fond memories of McNeal.

"I am really surprised that there are some good people out there reaching out to us, and they said they can remember Fred, that he would open the door for them, and said he was always willing to do whatever he could for them," she said.

Victoria McNeal remembers her brother as a "loving, caring person," and while he wasn't perfect, "he would always say 'I'm sorry' for the little things he did."

She added that many people viewed him as a troublemaker — largely stemming from allegations of misconduct when he was still in school — but most people had no real idea who he was.

"I just wish people would have gotten to know him better, and not judge him, and not harass him," Victoria McNeal said.

She also remembered her brother as a sports fanatic who played baseball and basketball.

His greatest love, however, was his daughter Violette, she said.