After a seven year battle with Metastatic Carcinoid cancer of the small bowel, Neal Robert McCracken died at his home on April 26, 2016 at the age of 50. He leaves behind his wife, Merrell McCracken and her parents; his father Charles McCracken of Dayton, Ohio; two sisters, Charlotte Pierce (Bakersfield, California) and Allison McCracken (Dayton, Ohio) and a brother, Gary McCracken (unknown). He was preceded in death by his mother Dorothy Jean Wright McCracken. He left this world in his wife's embrace listening to their first dance song from their wedding. He will be deeply missed by many. Neal "Mack" was born on June 15, 1965 in St. Petersburg, Florida. He grew up in a Bay Pines neighborhood surrounded by many friends and memories. He went to Orange Grove Elementary, Madeira Beach Middle, Seminole and Dixie Hollins high schools in Pinellas County and graduated from Belmont High School in Dayton, Ohio. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Education from the University of South Florida. He taught at PTEC South County from 1998-2003 and Frontier Elementary School from 2004-2010. He also served in the Army Reserves with the 231st Medium Boat Co. and then the 824th Heavy Boat Co., serving in the Panama Canal area and two tours during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He received a Bronze Star for exceptionally meritorious service during his first tour in the Middle East 2003. A soldier in his unit said Neal was someone who "always cared about the mission, morale and welfare. He was a great trainer and NCO". He retired after 20 years with the rank of Sergeant First Class in 2007. Except for high school years, Neal lived in and loved Pinellas County, Florida. Mack loves boating, tinkering with Apple products, his wife and dogs and his niece and nephew (Hannah and Trent). As a child, he was a member of the Cub Scouts, a Boy Scout, and a member of the Star Trek Club. He also loved participating in karate with his dad. Later, he was a group leader for a local Boy Scout troop, a member of the American Legion Post 273 and a lifetime member of the Seminole Veterans of Foreign Wars Post. In 2010 he completed his quest to visit all 50 states by continuing on to Hawaii, the last one on the list, after visiting with his father in Ohio and his sister and her family in California. Mack requested to be cremated. His ashes will be interred on May 11, 2016 at 2:15pm in the C.W. Bill Young Bay Pines National Cemetery, 9500 Bay Pines Blvd., St. Petersburg. A celebration of life will follow immediately at the American Legion Post 273 Hall, 600 American Legion Drive, Madeira Beach. In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to The American Cancer Society or Moffitt Cancer Research Center in his name.