Neil Ben Trammell

Neil Trammell, born December 2, 1928, passed away at his home on June 2, 2012, at age 83. He was born at National, UT, while his family was temporarily located at a mining camp, during the hardest times of the Great Depression. Much of his early life was spent in small towns on the eastern side of Arkansas, where his family were primarily cotton farm workers. After learning from relatives about new opportunities in Oregon, the entire family, including Neil and five siblings, settled at Grand Island. They later moved to their family home in Dayton, OR, where his family was blessed with six additional brothers and sisters. He attended Dayton High School, where he met Patty Ann Woodward. Neil was student body president of his graduating class in 1947. Following graduation, in the years following World War II, Neil enlisted with the U. S. Army. He was stationed at Fort Story, VA. After his discharge from active service, he continued in the National Guard for six years. Upon returning home to Dayton from the Army, by chance he again met up with Patty Woodward. The friendship that had developed in high school quickly turned into a deeper relationship. They married on September 2, 1950, at the Christian Church at Dayton, and remained devotedly married for the next 61 years. After marrying, they lived in Forest Grove, OR. They returned later to live in Dayton. Neil worked at a local appliance store, showing a natural talent for anything mechanical. He was subsequently recruited and mentored by the lead engineer at the Alderman Farms cold storage plant, just outside of Dayton. Neil purchased and remodeled a small home in Dayton, for raising his two new sons, Larry and Lonnie. His reputation as a plant operator grew. He was offered a position in 1960, as the refrigeration engineer at the Terminal Ice and Cold Storage plant at Milwaukie, OR. As they say, “it was an offer that he couldn’t refuse.” He moved the family to Tigard, OR. His career continued upward, as he was elected President of the local chapter of the Refrigeration and Operating Engineers professional society. In 1965, he and his wife, Patty, decided to move, to raise their boys in a rural area. They purchased the Bonaparte Lake Resort, in the Okanogan National Forest, between Tonasket and Republic. He operated the resort until 1972. This was the happiest and most productive time of his life. After his two sons grew and went on to college at Washington State University, he lived in the Tonasket and Omak areas, working in carpentry and appliance repair. Looking forward to a warmer environment, he and Patty relocated to Yuma, AZ. Shortly later, he was offered a job back in the Wenatchee area, and jumped at the chance. At Wenatchee, he worked in apartment management and home business projects. After a series of strokes, the decline was relatively fast, as he lost most of his eyesight, hearing and physical strength. In the early morning of June 2, 2012, Neil was at last received into God’s loving arms in the presence of his family. Neil is survived by his wife, Patty; children, Larry Trammell of Kirkland, WA, and Lonnie and Jo Ann Trammell of Dallas, TX; and grandsons, Brad Trammell of Austin, TX and Ryan Trammell of Dallas, TX. The family would like to give special thanks for the kind help and reassurances received from Stacy from Aging and Adult Care, Ellen and Carrie at Beneficial In-Home Care, and Debbie and Gail at the Central Washington Hospital Hospice. Special thanks to neighbors Bob and Bobbie Higgins, who seemed always to appear just when needed most. A Memorial Service will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 9, 2012, at the Jones & Jones~Betts Memorial Chapel in Wenatchee. Please express your thoughts and memories for the family on the online memorial website at www.jonesjonesbetts.com. Arrangements are by Jones & Jones~Betts Funeral Home.

Tributes

Neil Ben Trammell

December 2, 1928 - June 2, 2012