Grand Isle.  Rev Neil R. Soucy, S.M. died July 8, 2024 in Noumea, New Caledonia, at the age of 88.  Fr Soucy was born in Grand Isle, ME November 17, 1935 the first born of O'Neil Soucy and Blanche Beaulieu.  He attended Grand Isle elementary school.  At the age of 14, he entered Marist Preparatory Seminary in Bedford, MA.  After a year of novitiate in Staten Island, NY, he professed his vows in the Society of Mary.  Following two years of philosophy in Framingham, MA and four years of theology at The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, he was ordained a Marist priest at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, DC on February 4, 1962, by Bishop Thomas Wade, S.M., Apostolic Vicar of the Northern Solomon Islands.  His first assignment was at the St John the Baptist Parish in Brunswick, ME.  After two years in Brunswick, his dream to become a missionary was realized.   On December 17, 1964, he arrived in Honiara, capital of the British Solomon Islands.  He remained there for 22 years serving as a parish priest in the mountainous islands of Guadalcanal, Malaita and San Cristobal.  In 1986 for the next six years, he was the Assistant Provincial, assisting his Marist confreres in mission affairs and at the same time, served as archivist for the Solomon Province.  In 1992 for the next two years, he moved to Padri Maristi, the Marist headquarters in Rome where he took care of the archives and the finances of the Society.  On December 7, 1994, he returned to his new mission land of New Caledonia where he spent his last 29 years.  He served the parish of the Good Shepherd until 2011, the parish of St Louis till 2013, filled in all over New Caledonia till 2015 and the parish of La Conception till 2023.   With failing health, he was happy to do as much ministry as his health allowed.  During his golden jubilee of ordination on February 4, 2012, he was described as a pastor very close to his flock, "with a generous, simple, devoted, open-minded heart, who constantly repeated: live unity in diversity."  His last visit to the States was in August 2014.  Fr Neil was predeceased by his father and mother and his brother Kenneth.  He leaves behind three siblings – Gordon (Therese) & Gerald (Angela) of Grand Isle and Chris (Dawn) of Guilford, CT.  A Memorial Mass will be offered this summer.  Fr Neil was cremated and will be buried In Noumea, New Caledonia.