Name: Mr. Leonardo D. Neece

Date: July 3, 1953 - November 27, 2025

Biography

City of birth: Oklahoma City, OK

Mother: Jimmie Neece

Father: Prince Neece

Spouse: Wynell Neece

Sisters: Virdell Washington, Gladys Devane, Carol Williams (Deceased)

Education: Mount St. Mary's Catholic School/Indiana University/OCU

Occupation: Operations Manager o at Bank of Oklahoma

Special notations: Leonardo DeWayne Neece—Butch to family and friends— passed quietly on Thanksgiving evening, November 27, 2025. Butch, born to Jimmie Mae and Prince Eugene Neece on July 2, 1953, was the youngest of four siblings—the other three all girls. He grew up in Oklahoma City, in a loving family grounded in the National Baptist tradition of compassion, kindness, and faith. Guided by his mother’s example, these values shaped his early years and were reinforced by his secondary and high school education at St. Mary’s Catholic School. He earned a bachelor’s degree with an emphasis in photojournalism from Indiana University and a master’s degree in business from Oklahoma City University. Over the course of his professional journey, Butch worked in fields as varied as oil engineering, corporate communications, and banking. He began as a logging engineer on Oklahoma oil rigs, applying his photojournalism training to record and interpret complex data. Later, he brought his talents to marketing and public relations at Southwestern Bell, AT&T, and Lucent Technologies before serving as Operations Manager at the Bank of Oklahoma. Butch was a founding member of the Men of Distinction in Oklahoma City. He served on the NE OKC Black Chamber of Commerce, volunteered with Junior Achievement, and coached elementary- and middle-school youth in basketball. Butch, along with his business partner Lynn Ware, was the founder and Editor of the Black Advocate (1992-1993). No matter the role, he held fast to his belief that honesty, integrity, and compassion are the true measures of a person’s worth. Guided not by religious dogma but by empathy and service, Butch dedicated himself to uplifting others through community organizations that supported the young, the elderly, and those facing educational or economic challenges. He believed in and consistently demonstrated his financial support for black-owned businesses in our community. Butch’s devotion to his family was unwavering. He was proudest in those moments when he boasted about the accomplishments of his family members. Butch married Wynell Colbert, the love of his life, on June 6, 1981, D-Day. And for 43 years, he got a lot of comedic mileage out of the historical date. During their many years together, they shared not only laughter, love, and joy but also the trials that life placed before them. Their unconditional love and devotion to each other stand as a true testament to selflessness and commitment. While he had no children of his own, Butch often joked about his choice not to have children, saying,” Thanks to my sisters, I know how hard it is to raise children, so I'll never have any. Yet, he embraced the role of older brother, mentor, and surrogate father to five nephews, remaining a constant presence in their lives until his passing on Thanksgiving Day. His love and guidance touched them deeply and left an enduring legacy. Butch loved cars and was a GREAT fan of the Green Bay Packers, the San Francisco Giants, the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Oklahoma State Cowboys, and his alma mater, the Indiana Hoosiers! Butch’s intelligence and sharp wit were evident from a young age. He had an uncanny ability to recognize the “unsaid” and speak truth to his beliefs, a gift that was both a blessing and a challenge. In junior high, he was among the brightest students, often finishing assignments ahead of his classmates. Like many mischievous 14-year-olds, he sometimes entertained himself by distracting others. On one occasion, a nun called him to her desk and said, “Butch, you are so intelligent and likable, but you must learn to follow the rules. You could grow up to lead your people.” Without hesitation, Butch replied, “What if I don’t want to lead my people—what if I want to lead your people?” That honest exchange earned him a suspension for insubordination, but it also revealed the fearless wit and clarity of thought that defined him. Throughout his life, Butch’s brilliance and humor became powerful tools in navigating a world where justice and equality were too often denied to the marginalized. He was plain-spoken and unapologetic in his beliefs, and he lived by the motto: “to thine own self be true,” or as Sinatra would sing, “I did it My Way!” Butch was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Carletta (Carol) Williams, leaving family and friends who cherish his memory and hold him forever in their hearts: a loving wife, Wynell Colbert Neece; two sisters, Virdell Washington and Gladys DeVane & husband Gene; nephews, Glenn DeVane, Gerrick DeVane (Jackie), Gene O. DeVane, Keno Driver (Cheryl), Orlando (Landy) Driver (Paula), Anthony (Tony) Gooden (Tamerra) and Larry Calvin; nieces, Felicia Gray (Ronald), Dana Brown (Clay), Sheila Butler, DeEdra Harris and Rochelle Loften; sisters-in-law, Stephana Colbert and Jordiene “Joy” Petitt; brothers-in-laws Winfred Colbert (Denise), and Jonathan Colbert (Mabel); a host of great-nephews & nieces, cousins and many friends. A Celebration of Life will be held at 1:00 pm on Saturday, December 27, 2025, at the Bryant Center, 2200 N Bryant Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73121 · The world feels quieter without your laughter. We Will Miss You Butch!

Visitations: No Public Viewing

Services: A Celebration of Life will be held at The Bryant Center, 2200 N Bryant Ave.

Services date and time: 1pm Saturday, December 27, 2025