Jerry J Neal

1983-2012

My son Jerry was quite a man-

Jerry was born on this very day, in 1983 to Leola and Lyle Neal at the hospital here in Renton Washington.

Jerry was a happy baby, called “the hunk” by his Mother because his health was so robust and weight gain was so good…. His older Brother Timothy delighted in him as soon as he could walk, and as for Jerry, he became Tim’s shadow… the two were seldom apart.

Jerry loved sports, and played soccer during grade school, actually playing up in skill level 2 years, so he could play on the same team as his older brother. He was also a baseball basketball and football fan in his youth, loves which carried on throughout his life.

My family and I moved to a farm when Jerry was about ready to start school, and he found a new passion there.. animals.. he was part of the raising of pigs, chickens, cows, dogs and another lifelong favorite… cats.

While he would tell you, his friends, all about what hard work it was, he would also sit and pet and look at those critters for hours and hours.

Jerry Attended both Auburn and Kentlake High schools making many of the friends there that are here today.

Jerry loved the water, loved to go camping and swim and fish, and delighted in taking Alizay on her first of many fishing trips.. he was sooo proud of her because she would bait her own hook and wasn’t at all afraid of the worms and bugs used for bait. She loved to squeeze the fish after they were caught. Jerry loved to squeeze her just the same.

Jerry was a hard worker all his life. And, whatever job he took, he soon mastered it, and rose to positions of responsibility by delivering results. He became a supervisor at a Screen Factory and was a Lead at Leaf Guard Gutters.. he was part of the team that did Masonry construction on many of our area bridges and major thoroughfares. He became a Master Carpenter in restoration and finish work.

In all these jobs he won the respect of the people he worked with and worked for by being intelligent, willing to learn from his mistakes and not being satisfied with less than perfection.

Jerry had a love of Mechanics that lasted his whole life… he could teach himself anything he was interested in knowing. And that same “can do” attitude allowed him to fix anything he or his family drove.

Jerry loved his friends… and was loved in return by them, as evidenced by all of you here today.

My Son Jerry was also a family man….in mid 2004 he began to date the love of his life, Carrie Nelson and met the second love of his life, her daughter Alizay, who he took into his heart and raised as his own, becoming the only real father she has ever known. Like any Father his first concern was always for her welfare and growth into a beautiful, well-mannered young lady.

He loved both Carrie and Alizay passionately, wanted only the best for them and worked tirelessly to achieve that…when Economic times were so much better than today He and Carrie were able to take Alizay to Disneyworld, buy Carrie her first new car and later together they bought a home where they hoped to expand their family and grow together.

As we all know, Economic times took an abrupt turn for the worse…Being unable to find work with the Carpenters Union (no bridge/construction projects were being planned for the foreseeable future,) and still having a large mortgage and a family to feed each month, he came to work assisting in the re-model of his Father’s house and completed the job alone after the Prime Contractor quit unexpectedly… during this time he taught himself more skills “on the go” from Tile and Marble installation, hardwood floor installation and finishing,interior finish carpentry, all the way to complete demolition and room reconstruction, the whole time delivering flawless results the beauty of which spoke for themselves. He was subsequently able to parley this newfound skill into a new job, as a restoration carpenter correcting damage for insurance projects… if it was broke, Jerry could fix it. And make it look like new again.

And as economic times got worse, Jerry just tried harder to provide for his family. My Son Jerry was a family man for sure.

During 2011, he was so proud to announce to everyone that Carrie was pregnant with a second child, and that tests confirmed it was a boy… his first Son….. you could not get the grin off his face for a week after finding out… This caused Jerry to redouble his efforts to provide for his family and plan a life ahead for them all.

Jerry’s Son, Jordan Jerry Neal was born on January 7th, 2012. And he was unexpectedly early.. a preemie by 6-8 weeks according to the doctors. Jerry was over the moon with the latest addition to his family.

Yes, my son Jerry was quite a man-

He had been juggling sending Alizay to school, then going to the hospital for Carrie every day she was there, going home for his daughter after school and getting her situated with sitters or friends or relatives and jetting back to the hospital every evening since Jordan’s birth. He didn’t want any help (though it was offered time and again) but wanted to handle things himself..

And on the evening of January 9th, when I got to hold my oh so preemie grandson for the first time, after I left the hospital around 430, Carrie was to finally get to go home.. it has been a long 6 days for her....she was excited to see Alizay and just to be home with Jerry.. My son was to pick her up shortly after I left the hospital..

On his way to the hospital, just before 4 pm (I like to think he was trying to get there in time to meet us all there) his car crossed the median, striking another car and killing himself and the other driver instantly. No one knows why the accident occurred and in fact the reason may never be known.

Jerry is survived by his family, Carrie, Alizay and Jordan, His Father, Mother, Brothers Uncles and Cousins. He is missed and loved by all of you who have come here today to honor him.

Some folks say that one soul enters the world as another leaves...With Jerry and Jordan there was just a little overlap….the new baby is the absolute spitting image of his father...

This Memorial celebrates Jerry’s life…but as his family and friends and loved ones, We feel lost without Jerry…. I am lost. We all are… But his memory and love give us comfort.

Pray for us please and for yourselves. And pray please for the innocent man who died in the same accident as Jerry, and please pray for the youngest ones most of all.

We love you Jerry. God Speed my Son.

Arrangements under the direction of Greenwood Funeral Home, Renton, WA.