Jason "Jake" Lee Neel

Born and raised in Phoenix to Garry Neel and Janet Lester on December 1, 1974. Jake lived every moment of his life with charisma, kindness, and humor, always on his own terms.

As a teen, Jake played football for Camelback High School, but his greatest loves were found off the field. He thrived on two wheels, whether it was BMX, mountain biking, or riding his motorcycles. One of his proudest moments was competing in Baja California, Mexico, captured forever in the photo chosen for his obituary.

Jason was married to Heather LaFlame for 10 years, and together they had two beautiful daughters, Alisa and Deora, who were his pride and joy. He is also lovingly survived by his mother, Janet Munnelly; his sister, Janelle McEvoy, and her husband Rick; his niece, Victoria Dinkha, and her husband Kris; and his nephews, David Vanderlin with his wife Lianna, and Jonathan Vanderlin with his wife Caitlin.

A true collector at heart, Jake’s passion was antiquing and hunting treasures at the Park n’ Swap on Feel Good Fridays. He loved gifting cool antiques to people just to brighten their day. In 2023, he even brought his collection all the way to the Antique Roadshow in Anchorage, Alaska.

Jake also had a deep love for animals. Over the years, he shared his life with many beloved pets, from his basset hound Lowrider in his youth, to his dog Hope, who hiked countless miles with him. At the time of his passing, he was a devoted dad to his dogs Scrappy and Lily, with Lily famously winning a “Cutest Dog” trophy in 2017, and his cats Lebron and Frankie.

He later shared years of marriage with Jeanette Miranda, and though their paths eventually separated, they remained an important part of each other’s stories. His family, friends, and community will always remember him as a man who would give the shirt off his back and knew how to make people laugh.

In recent years, Jake could often be found in Tempe, cruising down Mill Avenue and enjoying the city he loved.

Jake’s life will be celebrated in the same way he lived it: full of laughter, stories, and the spirit of adventure. In his memory, we encourage everyone to take the scenic route, laugh a little louder, and never pass up a good find at a swap meet.

He will be deeply missed by all who knew him, but especially by his family, who will carry his love forward in their hearts forever.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Green Acres Mortuary & Cemetery, located at 401 North Hayden Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85257, United States. The service is scheduled for September 26, 2025, from 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm.