Neil Allen Walker, Sr., 74, a Concrete area resident, and former longtime Whatcom County resident, passed away at his home on Thursday, May 6, 2010.
He was born on May 24, 1935 in Bellingham, Washington, the son of George & Anna (Selke) Walker. He was raised in the Everson area and attended and graduated from Mount Baker High School with the class of 1953.
He served his country in the U.S. Army from 1957 to 1959. Then worked as a logger in Skagit, Whatcom and Snohomish counties.
In 1959 he was united in marriage to Nadene Vanderyacht and they made their home in Bellingham Wa. for several years until their separation in the mid 1960’s.
Neil worked as an overhead crane operator for the Intalco/Alcoa aluminum company in Ferndale for over 30 years, retiring in 1997.
Neil was a very lovable man, was “everyone’s grandpa” and never met a stranger.
He was a member of the Machinist and Aerospace Engineers Union #2379 and the Concrete Eagles Aerie 1444. He enjoyed walking his dogs, hunting, fishing, and playing pool whenever possible.
He is survived by his Brothers Frank and Carl Cain his children and their spouses, Neil & Patricia Walker, Jr. of Birdsview, Bethany & Bill Franklin of Cain Lake and Darla & Robin Feetham of Concrete. Grandchildren, Anthony Walker, Rosanna Walker and her fiancé, Aryn Kerr, Misty Walker, Brandy Stanek and Darrell Stanek, Step-grandchildren, Julie Creelman and husband Paul, Frank Feetham, Jennifer Franklin, Megan Jones, Great-grandchildren, Cody, Xyrone and Te’Aunna Shea, Keara, Kerri, Darrell Jr. (D.J.), Trevor, Jonathan, Samantha and Taylor and step-great-grandchildren Devon, Lilly and Quinn ’Tin. His “adopted family members” Katie and James Skinner, Bob and Delane VanderLinden and their children, Samantha, Jessica, Destiny and Josh. Also his “Eagle Brother” Dave Hoag and all his many friends in the community.
He was preceded in death by his parents; 3 sisters, Irene Hayes, Ann Danielson and Margret Hacker and 4 brothers George, Johnny, Don and Robert Walker.
A Life Celebration will be held on Saturday May 15, 2010 at 12:00 pm at the Hamilton First Baptist Church. Cremation arrangements under the direction of Lemley Chapel, Sedro-Woolley.
happy fathers day
I miss you dad.
Happy Birthday!
I love you
We love and miss you Grandpa!!
We will forever love and miss you Grandpa!!!!!!!
NEIL, BETHANY , DARLA AND ALL YOUR KIDS FAMILY… SO SORY TO HEAR OF THE PASSING OF YOUR DAD, I HAVENTSEEN YOU FOR SO MANY YEARS WONDERED ABOUT EACH ONE OF YOU,. YOU NEVER LEFT MYHEART EVEN THOUGH I DIVORCED IN 87,, I THOUGHT OF YOU ALL HOPED TO REONNECT, I MOVED AWAY TO GOLDENDALE WA, YOUR DAD I REMEMBER AS A KIND GENTLE MAN, HE WILL BE GREATLY MISSED BY MANY, SENDNG UR LOVE AND HUGS YOUR WAY, NOW THAT I HAVE YOUR WHERE ABOUTS WILL TRY TO CONTACT YOU BY PHONE , COMPUTER OR MAIL. ,,LOVE AND HUGS AGAIN YOUR AUNT CATHI
I would like to personally thank our alert family members for catching and correcting us on our paternal geneology. We are eternally grateful
as over the years memories fade. Add to that a divorce over four decades ago with the children being awarded to their mother. With dad’s tremendous, rigorous work schedule at Intalco, re-marriages on both sides, you get the picture and, again I thank you eternally. As the person who was speaking from memory at the table in Lemleys’ Chapel I take first hand responsibility for the error in this time of whole hearted in-measurable grief I truly did not intend to cause anyone more grief or pain.
Mom always told us our lines of lineage for both sides of our families fairly to the best of her ability and knowledge. The stories never fell on deaf ears, I just did not write them down and keep them at hand as protectively as I should have. Another lesson learned in a most peculiar time. Again thank you for sharing George as our grandfather’s first name the records will reflect these truths for eternity.
Since our father Neil Sr. reunited with our mother Nadene as companions in 2000 until her passing in 2001, I have been blessed with the beginnings of a re-aquainting of my paternal family. Time, which there never seems to be enough of and circumstance which we generally have no control over, both, it seems to me, people have been trying for centuries to conquer or confine.
For me I have tried to take life in stride and enjoy every thing along the way, find happiness in sorrow and be thankful for each and every day, and every person I meet along the way, I wonder who I might have acquired that from! Thanks Dad and Mom too!
Dad even though your physical form is missed greatly I have in my heart and mind all the memories of the life we shared. The memories we made along this path in life are mine now to cherish and choose to share or just hold dear. Cherish the memories I will forever.
Dad, mom and you have always been together in my heart. Now I pray that you keep each other in comfort, until the day I arrive once again to sit with you at the campfire side with the embers glowing just right to prepare the fish or game we bring in. Then sit back and visit with each other, take a toast and share a new beginning. Take walks with our dogs on paths of carpet so fair you don’t need shoes to wear, through wooded forests or along the most glorious beaches, and all the other pathways we choose, into the fields we sow and gardens of vegetables and flowers we grow.
The strawberries will be plump ripe and firm, the rhubarb just to give an extra bit of spark and texture to make the pie just right and as always great. Your cakes were always moist and high and the best I ever tried. There is one day at Baker Lake maybe you should not have gone fishing. I refer to the turkey you left us in charge of basting, it was so delicious, by the time you got back in from fishing there were only bones left for stewing.
Without you Dad I would never have been in this place. Some say I am the controversial child, but in our hearts you and I know you are my only rightful blood born father. The connection was proven when I was heard crying from miles away, when at the hospital I had to stay, my cries and fears were transmitted to the family and you all heard. At the hospital you already knew which broom closet to go to. You, mom and my siblings knew, that my spirit was far too free to be captured inside a closet amongst all the debris. All of this at the grand age of half a year.
Dad (and mom) in closing this page I want to say let the horses run free with the wind in your face, and fly together with your hummingbird mate, you are both in a better place. There are so many memories they would take to long to say here so thank you again for all the years. I’ll keep you in my heart for the rest of my years. I LOVE YOU!
Recited by Darla (Walker) Feetham at Neil Walker Sr.’s memorial service
at Hamilton First Baptist Church on May 15, 2010.
Thank you,
You were the Poppy my son needed. I will have memories of going fishing and how nice you were. You started me smoking the fish I caught once I started catching them.
I am a better person for knowing you even if it was brief. Thank you for accepting us into your family and treating us well.
I miss you dad
I love you