Neil E. Crislip

Neil Elem Crislip, 86, of Ashtabula, Ohio, passed away on Saturday, August 16, 2025, in Ashtabula, OH, from a short illness after a fall. He was born on November 6, 1938, in Rock Creek, OH, to parents Harley Fay Crislip and Helena Thirza (Wheeler) Crislip. Neil was a graduate of Ashtabula High School, class of 1956, and spent two and a half years studying Architecture at Eastern and Kent State University. While in high school Neil worked at a local Ashtabula gas station and with his father and brother in the summers building houses. A few years after high school he began working at the Ashtabula Bow Socket on the Paint Line. He then moved into the Manufacturing and Assembly line. He next became a machinist, and as Tool & Die Makers were needed, he attended night school to become a Tool & Die Maker. He was also a certified Welder. During his tenure there, the plant became known as the Ashtabula Forge, in approximately 1980 the Ashtabula Forge closed. For a short while Neil returned to his previous career building and remodeling houses with his older brother Gerald Crislip, who had taken over the family business when his father Harley Crislip had retired. He next took a position at CEI/The Illuminating Company in Euclid where he worked in the Power Plant Support Center for several years before accepting a promotion to Supervisor. After about 10 years at CEI he retired. Neil was an avid gardener and planted a large garden each year with his older brother Herman. With the help of their wives and children a bumper harvest was ensured each year. Neil, along with his wife Mary Lou, also served as a Band booster for Ashtabula High School where all his daughters (Melinda, Laura, Wendy & Louva) played in the band. Between the two of them, they transported and supported their daughters in many activities including band, choir, basketball, track, drama and other various school club activities. He also indulged his daughters in their love of horses, purchasing several horses through the years so they could participate in 4-H, horse shows and the Ashtabula County and Ohio State Fairs. He was a member of the Christlieb/Christlip/Crislip Family Association and served as an officer of that group. He also loved to travel and had visited 48 of the 50 states in the U.S. (Hawaii and Alaska included in the list visited), along with Germany, France, Austria and Hungary. Neil was an avid reader of Western stories and worked diligently on Sudoku puzzles daily. Neil was an active member of the Ashtabula First Baptist Church, where he was baptized at the age of eleven. He served in many volunteer positions at the church including the Choir, numerous terms as a Deacon and as a Trustee, the Nominating committee, Pastoral Search Committee and along with his wife Mary Lou, as leaders of the Youth Group. At the time of his death, he was serving as an Honorary Deacon and as the Financial Secretary of the Deacons. Throughout his life he had a love of children and often anonymously sponsored children so they could attend Band camp, Church camp and other activities. To the children of Ashtabula First Baptist, he was known as Grandpa Neil and could often be found handing out Tootsie Pops or other candy to them. Neil is survived by his beloved wife of nearly 65 years, Mary Lou (Hoffman) Crislip. They met in 1953 and their 65th Wedding Anniversary would have been September 10th of this year. He is also survived by four daughters, Melinda Raimann (Robert), Laura Crislip, Wendy Holthaus (Roger) and Louva Lyons (Fiance Demond Thomas). Neil had nine grandchildren (Steven and Shane Crislip, Andre Wallace (Serena), Scott and Grant Raimann, Michelle (Holthaus) Showman (Jonathan), David Holthaus, Danielle (Holthaus) Steinke (Nicholas) and Alyssia Lyons. He was also blessed with four great-grandchildren (Rose and Noah Showman, Calvin Steinke, and William Wallace) with the fifth (Steinke) expected later this year. He is also survived by his younger sister Linda Potts of Ashtabula. Neil was predeceased by his parents; Harley F. and Helena (Wheeler) Crislip; and seven of his eight siblings, Franklin Crislip, Velorous Crislip, Herman Crislip, Gerald Crislip, Miriam Amsden, Kathleen Bloom and Georgia Brais. A memorial service for Neil will be held Saturday, August 30, 2025, at Ashtabula First Baptist Church, 4353 Park Avenue, Ashtabula, OH 44004, with Pastor Joseph Wood presiding. A visitation hour will be held at 3:00 pm and the memorial service will begin at 4:00 pm. Should friends desire, a memorial contribution in his name may be made to the First Baptist Church of Ashtabula in lieu of flowers. Lake Erie Cremation and Funeral Services, 1500 Harpersfield Rd, Geneva, OH 44041, assisted the family with arrangements. (440) 361-227. www.lakeeriecrematory.com.