LETTER: Bill Neves brightened Odessa

Our neighborhood is going to be a little darker because we lost Mr. Bill Neves.

My wife and I have lived in this east Odessa neighborhood for 14 years and each year we have enjoyed the Neves family Christmas display, and as I drive by his home each day, I still envy his Texas-sized and Texas-colored mail box. 

I regret that I only visited with Mr. Neves two or three times during all of these years. Each visit occurred because I would see one of his horses that had decided to graze outside the fence, and each time he would round up the horse and then we would have an ‘over the fence’ conversation. I was fascinated by his stories about their animals and their various collectibles. We even discovered that both of us had served in the U.S. Air Force.

During one conversation he told me that if he ever moved away from his home he would only be moving a short distance … across the street to Sunset Memorial Gardens. Mr. Neves has made that move.

To the family of Mr. Neves, we extend our sympathy for your loss. And, we thank you for the time and energy that you have invested in your family project of lighting up our neighborhood.