Ernest Neal

Everyone called him Ernie. Born in Oakland, Oregon on March 31, 1924, Ernest Laverne Neal died peacefully of age-related causes on December 29, 2015. Ernie and his wife Ellen lived in Salem/Keizer for the past fifty years. Growing up in rural Douglas County, Ernie cultivated an early, lifelong interest in fishing and hunting. During the Depression years, his efforts often put food on the family table. At 14, Ernie's mother died, and because his father's work as an inventor kept him on the road, Ernie had to move to Portland where he lived in a boarding house while attending Grant High School for two years. He made the All City team in basketball as a sophomore. Ernie was able to live with his father in Chicago for his last two years of high school. Known there as Ernie "Oregon" Neal, he became the top basketball scorer in Chicago while leading his Fenger High team to back-to-back championships for the first time in school history. College scholarship offers poured in, but Ernie wanted to serve his country in World War II. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps, distinguished himself as an elite sharpshooter, and wound up a nose gunner on a B-24 bomber receiving combat honors. He flew in 22 missions over Germany, Poland and Austria during the final year of the War. Casualties were many and Ernie narrowly escaped death from enemy fire on numerous occasions. For this reason, he frequently said over the course of his life that every extra day was "gravy". Ernie wrote a book about his combat experiences, "Memoirs of a Combat Airman", published in 2002.

Following the War, Ernie enrolled at Oregon State where he played basketball. Known as a fierce rebounder, Ernie earned a starting position at center as a sophomore, despite being only six foot one. Oregon State became one of the top teams in the country in the late 40s, making the Elite 8 in 1947 and the Final Four in 1949. In 2003, Ernie was inducted into the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame.

In 1948, he married the love of his life, Ellen Williams Neal and together, they enjoyed sixty-seven wonderful years of marriage. Following their graduation from Oregon State, both Ernie and Ellen experienced lengthy careers teaching in Oregon public schools. Ernie became a science teacher, particularly interested in marine biology. He taught and coached basketball in Bandon, Florence, Rogue River and Salem. He is survived by his wife Ellen and sons Dan of Eugene (Peggy), and Gary of Yamhill (Bridget), grandchildren Colby, Lindsey, Erin, Shannon, Grace, Gabriella and Garrett and great grandson William. He was predeceased in 2004 by his son Steve of Chicago (Susan), a highly accomplished journalist and author.

Upon retiring from his career in education, Ernie pursued his love of fishing by becoming a licensed fishing guide. Ernie and Ellen's travels included Europe, Australia, Egypt and family trips to Jamaica, Alaska and Hawaii. He was able to take a "Band of Brothers" trip with fellow veterans to tour the WW2 Memorial in Washington D.C. Ernie and Ellen spent their 50th wedding anniversary with their entire family in Maui in 1998.

Ernie was a 4th generation Oregonian with a lifelong commitment to preserving Oregon's natural resources. For example, he testified before the Oregon Legislature opposing legislation from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife which would have made it legal to harvest female crabs. Based in large part on Ernie's scientific testimony that this would severely damage Oregon's crab population, the bill failed. He was also a pioneer in Oregon's anti-littering movement of the 60s and 70s, leading students on many voluntary litter clean-up campaigns. Among many other pursuits, Ernie built several small boats, served as a Troop Master for the Cub Scouts, taught hunter safety, crafted artwork using stones and marine specimens he collected around Oregon and organized hundreds of fishing and crabbing trips for friends, family and students. Nobody was more gifted at the art of untangling someone else's fishing line while simultaneously keeping a watchful eye on his own pole.

Ernie was humble, hard working, and devoted to his family He was a happy man with lively eyes and the look of someone who knew something funny but preferred to keep it to himself. Ernie was loved and admired by friends and family, and is fondly remembered by generations of Oregon students. A Celebration of Life will take place for Ernie on Saturday, February 6 at 1:00 p.m. at Rudy's Banquet Hall by the Salem Golf Club. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to SOLVE (www.solveoregon.org).