Neil Demaree Obituary

Neil David Demaree

November 15, 1955 - July 1, 2025

Dr. Neil David Demaree passed away on July 1st at the age of 69 in Mt. Pleasant, SC.

Dave was born on November 15, 1955, the second of four children born to Neil Clements and Ann Crisp Demaree. He was raised in a military family and due to frequent moves attended at least nine schools including four different high schools. Dave graduated summa cum laude from Wofford University where he was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. He then completed dental school at the University of North Carolina. Following dental school he served on active duty in the Navy for four years in dental clinics on Guam and in South Carolina.

Following his active service Dave moved to Marion, VA in 1984 and opened a dental practice serving the community for 31 years before working several years for the Virginia Department of Corrections and Wytheville Community College Dental Hygiene program. He also joined the Navy Reserve where he met his wife, Martha (married 1986), and retired with the rank of Captain in 2001 after 21 years of service.

In addition to volunteering in the Kiwanis Club, he served on several boards and was a Big Brother in the Big Brothers/Big Sisters organization. He was an avid golfer for many years and later took up running, proudly completing the Richmond Marathon at age 60.

Dave was a hands-on father to daughters Stephanie, Melanie and Mackenzie whom he dearly loved and delighted in amusing with silly jokes and antics, assisting with homework or projects, cheering them on at their many activities, and in later years discussing their favorite books, movies and TV shows. Always a dog lover, the family had seven dogs over the years.

Dave was preceded in death by his father, Neil C. Demaree.

He is survived by his mother, Ann, wife, Martha, daughters Stephanie Demaree (Adam Fulmer), Melanie Maggy (Matthew), and Mackenzie Pragdat (Matt), grandchildren, Iris, Violet and Benjamin Maggy, Clara Pragdat, and siblings Becky Scully (Frank), Jim Demaree (Susan) and Susan Hughes (Tony). Also left to cherish his memory are numerous other relatives, friends and caregivers.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 10, 2025 at First United Methodist Church in Marion, VA. The family will greet friends following the service.