Neal Jay Smith
November 15, 1941 – October 3, 2023

Neal Jay Smith, 81, of Sweet Home passed away October 3, 2023. He was born on November 15, 1941 to James and Florence (Worley) Smith in Tacoma, Washington.

He grew up in Roy, Washington, his family moved to Madras when he was 15. At 17, he joined the Marines. His marine buddy took him home for a visit in Miami, FL where he met his buddy’s sister, Sharon Lee Ahlbrandt, who he later married in January 1964. For their honeymoon they traveled from Miami to Madras where they lived for the next four years before moving to Sweet Home in 1968 where they have lived ever since.

Neal worked 21 years at Willamette Industries. He worked his way up becoming an electrician. When the mill shut down he moved to Norpac Foods as an electrician for 18 years.

He liked watching NASCAR and NFL, playing card games on the computer, going to the casinos and loved to drive around the lake.

Survived by his wife, Sharon of Sweet Home; daughter, Brenda Curry of Sweet Home; son, David Smith of Lebanon; siblings: Janice Humble of Brawley, CA, Katherine Perdue of Sweet Home, Jerry Smith of Terrebonne, Ramona Smith of Utah; four grandchildren: Billy, Aaron, Kristen, Mauve and two great grandchildren: Jackson and Nico. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother James Smith.

A Celebration of Life will be 2 pm Sunday, November 12th at the Sweet Home Veterans Club. Graveside service with military honors will be 2 pm Wednesday November 15th at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland. Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling arrangements. www.sweethomefuneral.com.