Ann Settlemyre McNeill, of Southern Pines, N. C. and long-time resident of Lenoir, N. C. passed away Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at her home. She was born July 3, 1941 in Bayshore, Long Island, New York to the late Loyd Settlemyre and Elizabeth ToIan Settlemyre. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her son, John Charles McNeill, brothers, William Settlemyre, James Settlemyre and Robert Settlemyre and sister, Susan Settlemyre.

Mrs. McNeill graduated from Drexel High School and received her education at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill with a BS in physical therapy.  She was a member of the American Physical Therapy Association and she was the director of the Medical College of Virginia Physical Therapy Outpatient Department, and vice president of the Virginia Physical Therapy Association. During her husband's military service, she was physical therapist for Fairfax County, Virginia.

After moving to Lenoir with her husband, Dr. Donald McNeill, they started the physical therapy department at Caldwell Memorial Hospital in the early 1970's, and she also initiated the physical therapy department of Ashe Memorial Hospital in Jefferson, North Carolina.

She was loved by her many rehabilitation patients who would see her years later in the grocery store and recall how her therapy made them well and active again.  She worked as a physical therapist for 50 years, retiring in 2013.

Ann learned tennis in the 1970's and enjoyed the sport with her many friends in singles and doubles competition as member of Cedar Rock Country Club women's tennis and several other tennis clubs.

Ann loved snow skiing after learning with her husband in the early 1970's with annual skiing adventures to the western states, Canada, and many Alpine ski locations in Europe.

She became an ardent cyclist with her husband and participated in cycling adventures in New England, the Blue Ridge Parkway, the New River Valley and she completed the 100 miles Bridge to Bridge Challenge ride from Hickory, N. C. to the top of Grandfather Mountain in 1992.

Ann was a member of the Lenoir Service League for 20 years. She and her family attended the First Presbyterian church of Lenoir where she was president of the Women of the Church, a Sunday School teachers and secretary of the Foundation of the First Presbyterian Church (now Lenoir Presbyterian Church). She and her husband established the McNeill Family Endowment at the Lenoir Presbyterian Church for Christian Education for children and young people.

Survivors include her husband Donald McNeill, daughter Susan Tolan McNeill Kight, and two grandsons, Cameron Stevens Kight and Alex Tolan Kight of Wilmington, N. C.,

The family will receive visitors at Lenoir Presbyterian Church from 12:30 – 2:00 p.m.

The funeral will be held at Lenoir Presbyterian Church at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 1, 2024 with Rev. Robert Hinman officiating.  Burial will follow at Blue Ridge Memorial Park.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by Greer-McElveen Funeral Home in Lenoir, N. C.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully request that memorial contributions may be made to the McNeill Family Endowment at the Lenoir Presbyterian Church, 1002 Kirkwood Ave., N. W., Lenoir, N. C. 28645 or Caldwell Memorial Hospital Foundation, 321 Mulberry street, S. W., Lenoir, NC. 28645

Online condolences may be left at www.greer mcelveenfuneralhome.com.