Noel Ardis Negley Jr. passed away peacefully at home in Manteca on May 28, 2026, at the age of 92.
Noel’s favorite T-shirt said, “Grab Life by the Handlebars” and that he did, with gusto. He was an accomplished civil engineer and public administrator, beloved husband and family man, and an ever-active athlete and outdoorsman. Noel was born on March 28, 1934, in the house his father, Noel Negley Sr., built on the family dairy just outside of Escalon, which is still held by the family.
He attended Fresno State, where he earned a degree in civil engineering and met the love of his life, Leoma. They married in 1956 and would have celebrated 70 years of marriage in July.
He was a civil/agricultural engineer and spent most of his career as the General Manager of the South San Joquin Irrigation District in Manteca, where he was central to the development of the Tri-Dam project on the Stanislaus River and managed water supplies for 72,000 acres.
Noel and Leoma were active in St Paul’s Methodist Church, where Noel supported Leoma in her many church-related volunteer endeavors.
He was the ultimate sports fanatic and adventurer. He loved skiing, biking, tennis, racquetball, backpacking, hiking, and mountain climbing (Whitney, Mt Shasta and Rainier). Noel and Leoma traveled extensively in retirement for pleasure and as volunteers for church and other non-profit organizations.
He passed on his love of sports and the outdoors to his children and grandchildren. He made friends easily, had many close lifelong friends and he cherished his large, active family.
Noel was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend to many. He is survived by his wife Leoma, his five children; Karen Talbot, Andrea Mayer, Erica Despain, Denise Negley and Brian Negley, seven grandchildren and five great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by sisters Carolyn Grohne and Jean Pappa and grandson Joel Talbot. He will be greatly missed and forever remembered.
P.L. Fry & Son Funeral Home is honored to serve the Negley Family. A memorial service will be held at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church on Saturday June 20th at 11:30 am. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to St Paul’s Scholarship Fund, St Paul’s Food Pantry (910 East North Street, Manteca), or Bethany Skilled Nursing Employee Appreciation Fund (930 W. Main Street, Ripon).
MANTECA (Calif.) Bulletin
SATURDAY JUNE 13, 2026
