Howard “Neil” Jobe, age 88, passed away peacefully on December 11, 2025 in Brentwood, Tennessee.

Neil was born on July 15, 1937 in Nashville, Tennessee. He was raised by his mother, beloved aunt and maternal grandparents on a small farm in Dickson, TN with his younger brother. He and Bea raised their four daughters first in Dickson. In 1975, they moved to the farm in Primm Springs, where they resided until they moved to Brentwood, Tennessee in January, 2025. Neil and Bea proudly placed Jobe Farm in the Land Trust of Tennessee several years ago. Neil was a member and leader at Mt. Pleasant United Methodist Church for 47 years and more recently a member of Brentwood United Methodist Church.

Neil had a lifelong love of hunting ducks, quail and doves, as well as fishing. He was a longtime member of Ducks Unlimited and was a wildlife conservationist at heart.

Neil highly valued education and his own remarkable educational background included graduating from Dickson Co. High School, Martin College, Tennessee Polytechnic Institute, and he earned a masters degree in animal husbandry at The University of Tennessee, as well as earning 45 post-graduate hours at the University of Tennessee, Nashville.

Neil lived a life of service in church, agriculture, education, addiction support and as a good neighbor. In his young adult years, he was the youth director and choir director at Dickson United Methodist Church. He worked as assistant UT agriculture extension agent in Clarksville, vocational agriculture educator and FFA sponsor at Dickson High School, principal of Hickman County High School, administrator for Hickman County Schools and alternative school teacher for Maury County Schools. Neil provided assessments and support in seeking treatment for people struggling with addiction.

Neil served faithfully on the following boards: Martin Methodist College Trustees (1984-2023), Buffalo Valley Board of Directors (1982-2024) and St. Thomas Hickman County Hospital Board.

Some acknowledgements of Neil’s service include Dickson Co. Schools Distinguished Young Educator Award, The Hickman Co. Chamber of Commerce 2011 W.E. and Mable McDonald Citizenship Award, Martin Methodist College President’s Medallion, Hickman Co. Schools Leave a Legacy Award and the 2007 Women are Safe Professionals Who Care Award.

Neil is survived by his devoted wife of 64 years, Beatrice Boehms Jobe, daughters Alison Rogers (David), Janet Byers (Joel Maners), Dana Arnold (Forest), Nelia Jobe, special son Welvin Williams (Rhonda), brother Jeff Jobe (Cynthia), grandchildren Daniel, Jessica, Stephen and Andrew Byers, Rachel Rose (Matthew) and Lauren Spell (Nate), Jobe, Aiden (Jules) and Micah Arnold, Alicia Taylor (Brett), Sara, Cameron and Forrest Maners, great-grandchildren Olórin Arnold, Paxton and Wesley Taylor and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Neil is preceded in death by mother Cornelia Cox Jobe Downey, step-father Paul Downey, beloved aunt Margaret Cox, and brother Larry Jobe.

A memorial service will be held at McDonald Funeral Home in Centerville, TN on Saturday, December 27, 2025, at 1:30 p.m.; preceded by visitation from 10:30 a.m. – 1:15 p.m., followed by burial at Little Lot Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Martin Methodist Foundation — Religious Fund Scholarship at this link: bit.ly/3KZGc09 (Scroll down at this link to find this fund)

Or by check payable to Martin Methodist Foundation — Religious Fund Scholarship and mailed to:

Martin Methodist Foundation
Attn: Sara Finger
1908 Grand Ave., Suite 210
Nashville, TN 37212