David Allen Neely

I remember asking him a couple of years ago what he'd been reading. He and I both read nearly all the time. He told me that he'd been reading the same book over and over! Made me laugh. I was treated to an afternoon in his sailboat on the Columbia river with him and his brother, Mike, probably my best friend. It was a magical time I'll not forget.

He was a very gifted person, and was an excellent builder, and friend. He has a huge fan club.

Dave was my friend. His eyes, his smile and the sound of his laugh hadn't changed much since high school. Dave seized life and explored every part of it. He never wavered in his commitment to friends. In our class Dave was, indeed, the last of the original 1849ers. I'll miss him greatly.

Remembering Dave's old 50 Chevy fastback and how he blasted around in it, hilarious, He was a very smart person.

Dave leaves behind three grandchildren, Mariah (Chris), Zachary (Hunter) and Mckenna and four great-grandchildren, Beau, Lucia, Milo and Olympia.

I was remiss in not adding my wife, Sally's, name to my tribute. She knew and liked him, too.

My favorite outlaw. The guy was just plain cool and always remembered to pay a debt, even after forty years. I had forgotten he even owed me but he didn't. A class act if there ever was one.