William Evan “Buddy” McNiece, a life-long servant of Jesus Christ, was called to his heavenly home on Thursday, September 11, 2025. Born June 30, 1951 in Gary, Indiana, into a devout and caring household, Buddy developed many passions growing up that would come to shape his entire life. Buddy’s die-hard love of the Chicago Cubs led him to joining the baseball team of Cedarville College, where he also pursued his deep love of music. The latter is how he found the true and abiding love of his earthly life, an accompanist named Linda who became his devoted wife of more than 53 years.
Buddy earned a degree in Bible and entered pulpit ministry, serving in numerous roles (youth pastor, music minister, lead pastor, and more) in numerous churches, and introducing innumerable people to the boundless love of God. Later in life he practiced similar ministry wherever he was and in whatever profession he worked, as he saw each day as an opportunity to share a smile, a laugh, a helping hand, or a word of encouragement to any and all he met. He served even in retirement, including time he treasured as a volunteer chaplain for the Travis County Sheriff’s Office and the Pflugerville Fire Department.
These lessons in faith and love are a legacy carried on by those who loved him most: wife Linda; daughter Amy, son-in-law David, and grandchildren Kellen and Kyleigh Raigosa; son Matthew and daughter-in-law Jennifer McNiece; sister Wendy and brother-in-law David Stoner; brother-in-law Lynn Howard; and sister-in-law Kathy and husband Steve Heston; foster brother Paul and wife Marilyn Carlson; and seven nieces and nephews and their families. He was preceded in death by his father William E. (Bill) and mother Rosemary McNiece; in-laws Harley and Betty Newberry; and sister Melinda Howard.
The family will hold a celebration of life at First Baptist Church Pflugerville on Thursday, September 25th at 10:00 a.m. In Buddy’s honor, the family asks that you consider a charitable donation to Love Notes Chorus of Austin (lovenoteschorus.org, 3803 Arrow Drive, Austin, TX 78749) or the First Baptist Church of Pflugerville food pantry ministry (designated “food pantry”; fbcpville.org, 306 10th Street, Pflugerville, TX 78660).