I have too much to say. I wish I could type. I still cannot accept  that he is not here. 

Brett, I miss you so much. I am so blessed to have you in my family. I have so much to tell you and ask you. When I die i hope you are the first person I meet in the afterlife. You and your family are so special to me. You changed my life for the better. GOD bless you and your family and friends. When I met you both of lives changed.  I love you! I miss you so much. I

I miss and think of you always. Friday wasn't easy for our family.

I miss you, Brett.  We laughed in a dream last night.

Happy Birthday "Mr. Otter". Give my mom a hug for me. She was one of your biggest fans. Xxoo

Today is your birthday Bro.  We so wish you were here to celebrate this date you share with Cathy.  Miss you soooooo much!

Great thoughts and loving memories of you at Easter.  Miss you Bro!!

What a pleasure and honor to have met and became friends with a personality like Brett. What a great friend, what a gentleman and a great story teller! My sincere regrets to his family...Ken and Kim Shimabukuro

Today is the first Easter without our beloved brother Brett.  Easter was always such a special time for Brett. When the egg hunt tradition was first established by our mother, Brett always was in charge of hiding the eggs at varying degrees of difficulty.  As he took over the Rose Lane home and continued the tradition, he took great strides to make certain his beautiful yard sparkled.  He was the consummate host, always making everyone welcome and comfortable.  Happy Easter Brett!

I new Brett and his family very well earlier in my life. I was stunned and saddened  to read of his passing. My most sincere condolences go out to his brother Michael and his family.I remember his kindness and love of music.
Cynthia Cox

I met Brett about 20 years ago through mutual friends.  Soon after, he married into a lifelong family that I've always held dear.  It wasn't until Brett moved to Munns Park when I felt our relationship burgeoned.  You see, I had just entered into a two year sabbatical from my career while dealing with a life threatening illness.  I had plenty of time on my hands and so did Brett.  We kept in constant contact, mostly by phone and shared many of our life experiences.   I learned more about him in those last years of his life than throughout the proceeding 18 years.
On the day of his passing, two of my closest relations were visiting who also new Brett well.  The news had shocked us all, but I think we all knew it was coming.  I decided that I wanted to celebrate Bret's life with some music.  No matter where we were at (Spring Creek, Southern Colorado, Clay Springs, or Munns Park), Brett always sang lyrics to a band that I never knew the name of.  It was a deep baritone singer, which Brett gave great resonance to.  Anyway, I asked my company what was the name of that band that Brett always sang.  They said, “The Crash Test Dummies.”  I immediately looked them up on YouTube and found this concert http://youtu.be/djfP7HV7FdA .  After listening to the recording, I felt that we had just listened to Brett's requiem.  I strongly suggest that everyone that knew Brett listen to this concert.  It made a great impression on me.
 I will surely miss that Guy, but I'm positive that he played out his life like he wanted.  He was surrounded by the many loved ones that he deeply respected and admired and soaked up life to the fullest.  He will always be in my heart and memories. SO LONG OLD FRIEND...

Dearest One & Only, Brettfulness,
You changed the world with your goodness, willingness to share, and kindness to all humanity. Your soul is so wonderful Brett; we will always keep you with us. All we ever wanted was to have more of you, but you were a solitary man.  You are not One to forget Brett Darby Neils, and anyone who knew you, will more than likely never forget how you made us feel.  We just wanted to grasp you- but you were so out of reach... Its been so hard to leave you behind..., & always was. You were a most talented specimen in every way. You were so loved Brett, even when you wanted to be left alone.. You are such a beautiful talented  musician, landscaper by love & humanitarian. You are appreciated so much-we just wished we had more of you. Your love was different Brett, but everything about you was somehow perfect. You are peace- and got along with everyone. You are a rare jewel. We simply Love you & will forever miss you. You were a lot of fun and I loved your company! I listened to you play your baby grand piano very few times compared to what you had to offer my dearest friend. Within your shyness was an international talent that could have exploded. But you were not interested in monetary gains.  Your gift was so private and a priviledge to those who knew you well.  Thank you Brett. You changed my life. You are good.  I feel you have changed the lives of anyone who was willing to get to know you. Everything you did, had meaning in your heart. You were never a bragger or show off. 

I wanted to whisk you away to a faraway land because that seemed to be what you wanted...  Brett,  I couldn't help but be in love with you, because there was simply no one like you.  You noticed everything about greatness- things that truly mattered in life- Background cords in a musical piece, nests, sprouts, flowers, a new piece of fruit on the tree, birds fluttering inside the leaves of a tree, hummingbirds & butterflies, the sound of flowing water and your German Short-Haired Pointer, Blue, howling with concern as an ambulance or other siren drove by. I'll forever miss you, your piano playing & your sweet face, voice, laugh and kindness. Your acting abilities, voice over's of any actor and animal calls, especially happy critters like sea otters and ducks. Brett, I love you so very much and always will. Your are a unique angel. There simply is no one like you Brett and never will be. It's a tragedy that you have left us. You are now our Angel.  God bless you our dear soul. XOOOX farewell for now Brett... Enjoy, beyond the Pearly Gate...

Brett, I miss you so much! I can't believe you're gone my dear friend. You mean a lot to me. I spoke to you almost every night. You were treasured so fondly. If I ever had to say I have the best friend in this world, I would have to say that it was you. I want to say I love you so much. You are everything I wanted to ever want to be. You are my Soldier. Everything I ever wanted to be. Love, Dana

I met Brett in 1987 when our band formed.  Years prior to ‘And I Am', we forged our sound in Brett's Peoria living room.  Through many hours of improvisation, many months auditioning drummers and singers, Brett, John Jarvis and I also forged a lasting bond.  As much as I loved the music, when I look back I realize the band was all about friendship.   
Brett loved listening to music and sharing it.  Brett expanded my musical palette more than any other single person in my life.  He loved to discuss and describe every nuance of his favorite passages.  He also loved to sing.  I have a fond memory of Brett that happened one day after rehearsal and everyone else had packed up and gone.  Brett was very subdued, tinkering around on a piano patch.  It eventually evolved into ammeter-less, ethereal version of Solsbury Hill.  Using his own voice rather than an impression, he sang from his heart. It was very moving and it has really stuck with me.   
As our band approached the point of playing out finally, neither Brett nor I had ever done so.  One day when I arrived for rehearsal, the door was locked.  I wondered why as I knocked.  Brett flung the door open and blasted “Ceto got us a gig this weekend at the Mason Jar!  Are you ready?”  His eyes were full of intense fear, and I'm sure I reflected the same.   We both recognized that and busted into laughter.  
Brett welcomed me into the clan and I met a lot of his friends.  We enjoyed some great adventures. They were some of the best times of my life, with great memories of Brett.  4-wheeling trek over the Colorado Rockies (Brett driving golf balls off Imogene Pass); back-packing trips into West Clear Creek and Horton Creek (Brett making sure every last space in our packs was crammed with yet another beer or steak); and of course, house-boating on Lake Powell (Brett leading the charge across the bay on jet-skis).   Brett was at the center of most of these excursions, whether or not he made the original plan.  The fact is, he was a very generous person and always made sure that we ate and drank like kings.  
Brett and I spent one summer (1990?) writing the music for the songs that would soon be realized through And I Am. That summer culminated with a trip to Powell.  It was early September.  One afternoon, after a hard rain, Brett and I experienced the magic of a thousand waterfalls pouring off those awesome canyon walls into the lake.  That day with Brett will always stick with me.
Another fun memory happened at West Clear Creek.  One evening, after amazing gourmet campfire cuisine, we all took a short hike out to a nearby outcrop to enjoy the dusk.  Between talking and laughing, we heard the distant call of some unidentified beast, echoing off the canyon walls. Brett bellowed back and it answered.  We chuckled.  Other members of the expedition attempted the call.  No answer.  Brett howled out again, and the beast answered back again.  We all roared with laughter.  Brett spoke its language!   
Brett loved both sides of laughter.  I'll never forget his Ed Grimley mug or his Popeye laugh (usually followed by his PeeWee laugh).   One of our songs had a few measures with no keys, and a particularly challenging guitar part.  I knew if I looked up there would be Brett behind his boards doing the Soupy Shuffle, trying to make me slip up!  Laughter with Brett always had the ability to warp into one of those crazy, out-of-control laughs that go on and on, leaving you crying and breathless.      
I can't believe Brett is gone.  I will certainly miss him in many ways.  I'll always remember his love of music, people, and nature.  We shared good music, awesome adventure and most of all enduring friendship.  In his memory, I will continue to foster these things.   Salute' Brett!  
Feel free to contact me and I'll send you what music I have with Brett.  I'm sure you'll also receive his smile.

Couple of photos from our Rockies expedition

In case anyone would like any of the photos from the service, we have put them online:

http://s1244.photobucket.com/user/yneils/library/Uncle_Brett_Slideshow?sort=9&page=1

Missing you, Uncle Brett.

I met Brett in 1977 when I was 15-years old. The first moment I met Brett I was instantly drawn to him. He had a laugh and a smile that pulled you in and he had the freedom to be carefree as if he didn't have a thing to worry about.   When Brett and I started dating in 1980 I was 18, Brett was 22 and able to order Mauti's at Trader Vic's. He would painfully let me know how good it was by describing every flavor he could detect  because he wanted to share the experience with me! Brett wasn't content knowing the surface of things, he wanted to know how it was and why it was.  One of my favorite memories about being with Brett in a restaurant was the time I picked up my asparagus with my fingers and he asked me if I was going to eat that without a fork? I instantly asked him if he would ask his mother how she was planning on eating anything and he said “I wouldn't have to ask my mother how she would eat because she would never use her fingers!”  I replied with “wouldn't it be great to see her, though?”  We then laughed so loud it was wonderful.  Brett and I married several years after that. Brett was a gift. Once he got in your heart that is where he remained no matter what circumstance or time separated you.  Thirty Seven years after meeting Brett he still and will always have a place in my heart and I am certain all the hearts he has touch in his lifetime. Brett was gifted in so many ways and touched everyone in his own individual way that I believe we all got something similar but also different and very special that he created in his heart for each of us. I am saddend by his short life but I am grateful for the impact he had on so many of us in his lifetime. When someone is in your heart, they are never truly gone.

Brett...warm, friendly smiles...generous, loving heart...child-like enthusiasm...adventuresome spirit...musical genius...that piano...love for family and friends...open-mindedness...backyard gatherings...witty conversation...gardening...kindness, loyalty, emotional support...many memories, my dear neighbor...thank you, bless you.

Always, the perfect host.  You will be missed.

Brett had a childlike love of music; it was pure joy to watch him play and listen to it. He was a true connoisseur, someone who appreciated both the subtle and the harsh sounds, the bitter and the sweet tones. I've never known anyone who could get quite as excited about an anticipated release of new music as Brett. He was one of those friends that I could call up and say, "Did you hear that line in the second verse that sits way back in the mix?," - he would then interrupt me and begin singing the line verbatim. He listened into the music and took delight in the fullness of it all. Brett, I pray that you are hearing an even greater music now, so sublime and sweet that it makes everything you've ever heard in this world pale in comparison. May it be so and may you rest in the arms of Peace until the whole blessed band is joined together again in song.  - Rev. Pete Forbes

Condolences to the family we have known for over 43 years.  
George and Michelle Yandell  (Glendale AZ)

With a very heavy heart, I am overwhelmed by your departure.  With a very loving heart, I am reflecting upon many great memories of my little brother.

OBITUARIO

Brett Darby Neils

A.L. Moore-Grimshaw Mortuaries Bethany Chapel

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