William Neal McPheeters

Nationally recognized artist, William Neal McPheeters, 81, passed away January 6th, 2021 at home in Athens, TN surrounded by family. Neal was an artist, an author, avid reader, and lifelong student of his interests. He is not easily forgotten by any that were fortunate enough to meet him let alone fortunate enough to call him friend. He will be missed every day but his creative legacy will live on through his art. Neal was born in Chattanooga, TN and raised in Decatur, TN near the Tennessee River on the family farm. After graduating from Meigs County High School he enrolled in the U.S. Navy and served four years. His early art training included evening classes at the Norfolk, VA branch of William and Mary, and the Famous Artists Correspondence School. After his discharge from the Navy he enrolled in The Isaac Harris Art School and The Peabody Teachers College at Vanderbilt both in Nashville, TN. He later went on to be a founding member of Nashville’s Studio Six, a successful illustration and design studio. He served as the Art Director for the early education research program at The John F. Kennedy Center located on the Vanderbilt/Peabody campus. In the early 70s he moved to Sweetwater, TN where he opened the Sequoyah Performing Arts Center. He soon moved to New York and began a long freelance career. He then moved to Stone Harbor, NJ and opened a gallery, Peter McPhee Fine Arts, where he focused his energy on easel paintings. He has illustrated countless books, book covers, and commercial ads over the course of his career, and has art hanging in galleries all over the U.S. and Europe, including a permanent collection at the Tennessee State Museum. His most recent career accomplishment was fulfilling a long-time dream of publishing a graphic novel he began writing with his youngest son, Robert, back in the 80s, The Last Companion. He “retired” to Athens, TN two years ago to be closer to his daughter and family, but as he himself has said, “I don’t think an artist ever really retires.” He was creating up until the end. It was his wish for no funeral services. He is preceded in death by his father, William Taylor McPheeters, mother, Carroll Constance McPheeters, and son, Robert Neal McPheeters. Survivors include his wife of 34 years, Victoria Petersen McPheeters of Riceville, TN; son and daughter-in-law, William Daniel and Karen McPheeters of New Baltimore, MI; daughter, Cheryl McPheeters Wilson of Athens, TN; and sister, Rochelle McPheeters Whittington of Oklahoma. Grandchildren and Great-grandchildren include; Natasha, Shea, and Lucas Eaton; Toni, Robert, Alexia (Morrow), Christina, Tristan, and Bianca Fisher; Ginger, Pate, Diana, Tainia, and Samantha Tuilevuka; Jeremy, Samantha, and Evan Wilson; Josh, Chelsey, and Copeland McPheeters; Morgan McPheeters. Kyker Funeral Homes, Sweetwater, in charge of arrangements. www.kykerfuneralhomes.com

William Neal McPheeters

November 23, 1939 - January 6, 2021