Neal Christopher Gleaton

Neal Christopher Gleaton was born July 9, 1967 in Yakima, Wa. He passed March 8, 2023 of vascular disease.

Neal lived his early life in Yakima and Prosser before moving to Addy in 1979. In 1985 he graduated from Columbia River Christian Academy, and then went to Walla Walla Community College for 2 years before leaving college to help his parents build his mother’s dream log home.

In July of 1997, Neal met his future wife Anne (Yochum) at a business meeting. They started dating shortly thereafter – met for business, then got down to business – marrying September 25, 1999.  Together they’ve had the grandest adventures: honeymooning at Ashland Oregon’s Shakespeare Festival, Oregon Coast trips and camping with chowder eatin’ at Gracie’s in Depoe Bay OR, dream vacations to the Grand Cayman Islands and Israel, buying their beloved family home in Mead, and entertaining family and friends with fabulous meals, Neal’s many home brewed beers & mead, games, and lively conversations. Of course their greatest and most cherished adventure together is their three children Noah Christopher, Abraham Douglas, and Olivia Louise, all of Mead.

Neal parented his children individually – connecting with his kids via their interests and fostered the most amazing relationships with each. From Cub Scout leader, eventually helping the boys on their journey to Eagle Scout, to concerts and theater shows. Neal and his eldest, Noah, shared a love of all things cars, tinkering/fixing, and computers. Abraham shared his dad’s love of video games and music, and the occasional cigar. Neal’s love of pugs, the cartoon genre, and sci-fi books were just a few things that he and Olivia shared. Neal was always engaged and available for his kids, which was made more evident when looking through photos as there was most often one, or more, of the kids pictured with him.

Neal was a fixer of everything – something he learned from his paternal Grandpa Paul who was a brilliant handyman. Neal had many hobbies. Leatherworking – gun holsters, knife and ax sheaths, and custom work for family. He was the whole family’s IT repair guy. He was an avid gun collector and gunsmith and adept at reloading. He loved hunting with his father and sons. He really loved music; with an eclectic taste, he listened to just about everything. Neal was also a lover of books, his favorite author being Terry Pratchett. He enjoyed the occasional cigar and a good single malt scotch. He had his favorite pirate mugs often filled with one of his delicious home-brews. Serving as the family “chef”, Neal also mastered the art of grilling & smoking, and was the chief griddle master for every camping trip and event, something else he passed on to his sons. He was a true renaissance man with many more interests, quickly mastering whatever it was after research and repeated execution.

In Neal’s early career he owned a comic book shop, worked in construction building log homes, and was a driver for Pony Express before moving into IT, where he spent the remainder of his career. Neal became co-owner in Amazing Electronics in the late 90’s, after working at the computer store, with 2 other partners. After that he moved into IT service and repair and worked for several companies but Neal’s most loved occupation was as a stay at home dad, which he did for a total of 6 years. His final role was as a house husband after retiring early, a role he took great pride in.

Neal’s relationship with God was of the utmost importance to him, and his faith never wavered. When you had a conversation with Neal, he explained things not from his opinion, but from fact. Neal wasn’t one to vocalize his faith, but he would never compromise that faith or shy from quoting scripture or discussing God’s word.

Neal is survived by his wife and children, parents Jimmie and Rella Gleaton of Addy, WA, sister Sheryl (Ren) Evans, nephew Cameron, and niece René. Anne’s family became Neal’s family and he is survived by 4 brothers and 3 sisters (with bonus in-laws via their spouses) and 10 nieces and nephews who all loved Uncle Neal and his giddy laugh. This included his Goddaughter, Sally Garnant, whom he loved to pick out gifts for and joke around with. Neal is also survived by 2 maternal aunts and 2 cousins, and 4 paternal cousins.

Neal had a very special group of friends – his besties Frank and Steve, and others, had a shared text string between friends of over 30 years where they laughed and kept up with each other’s lives. Neal cherished his relationships and is commonly referred to as “such a nice guy”.

We’d like to thank the staff at Holy Family for their extraordinary efforts to give us more time with Neal. Dr. Amy Doneen played a vital role in Neal’s care over the last few years and became a cherished friend and advocate. Dr. Phillip Huber, Neal’s brilliant heart surgeon with an amazing bedside manner, saved Neal’s life more than once. We thank you both for caring for Neal.

Neal’s final “kegger” will be March 17, St. Patrick’s Day (how fitting) at Riplinger Funeral Home. Please dress casual, Neal would want you to be comfortable. The viewing is at 11:30, the celebration of life at 12:30, followed by graveside burial at 2:30 at Fairmount Memorial Park, a final resting place that feels like the many campgrounds visited in the Inland NW and close enough for his family to spend time with him.

*If you are interested in learning a little more about Neal’s unique health story you can read about it in Healthy Heart, Healthy Brain (chapter 2) by Bale & Doneen.