Neil Wayne Gearheart Sr.

August 14, 1942 - December 21, 2022

Neil was born to Wayne and Ruth (Stewart) Gearheart in Grand Island, Nebraska in August of 1942. The family later relocated to a small community outside of Estacada, OR called Threelinks, and later relocated to the Parkrose neighborhood of NE Portland.

Neil graduated from Parkrose High School in 1960, and later went on to serve in the United States Air Force. While in high school, Neil was a member of the football team, the baseball team, and the golf team. After returning from the Airforce, and in 1966, Neil married Diane Louise Briggs. He later joined the Portland Police Department in 1967.

During the years between 1967 and 1980, Neil held many other jobs like an active man might. He worked in the local grocery stores, had a job with Pepsi Cola, worked for Columbia Distributing and Manchester’s Distributing, unloaded meat trucks at a local meat store and eventually earned a master’s degree in Education from The University of Portland in 1976. He retired from his professional career with Frito Lay as a Fleet Safety coordinator but had many roles in the company over his tenure with the company. Neil also had a short time as an independent safety consultant for various trucking companies across the country.

During times he wasn’t working, he enjoyed fellowshipping with friends over coffee, enjoyed times on the links, and spent much time at church. He also raced motorcycles at Sidewinders; and was a devout Notre Dame Fight Irish fan! From somewhere in the mid ‘70s, through the early 2000s, Neil spent many a Christmas season filling the boots of Santa Claus at Frito Lay, with The Sunshine Division, with the Police Department, at Doernbecher, at Randall Children’s Hospital, and I am sure there are many more. He had a big heart and loved most that came into his path and journey.

Neil is preceded in death by his parents Ruth and Wayne, sister Sharon Plantz, and his wife Diane. Neil is survived by his brother James Gearheart, his three sons, Neil II, Scott James, and Sean Michael as well as six grandchildren Brad Reeves, Mackenzie Gearheart, Taylor Gearheart, Sean Robert Gearheart, Mason Gearheart, and Tabor Allan Gearheart, and one great-granddaughter Jordyn Ray.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that anyone interested in offering remembrances be done through Open House Ministries and The Sunshine Division.