Neal Robert Lockhart

Neal Robert Lockhart was born in Portland,Oregon to Robert Neal Lockhart and Georgia Kay Jones August 28, 1968. After a two week battle in the hospital with pneumonia, Neal passed away on October 23, 2021 from a pulmonary embolism. Neal grew up in the small town of Rogue River, Oregon with his parents and younger brothers, TJ and Geoff where he played war in his hay fields, rode his Yamaha 60 Motorcycle, and went camping and fishing with his family and the Boy Scouts. Neal attended Foots Creek Chapel where he was baptized and accepted Jesus as his savior. Besides getting up early daily before school to take care of the family farm, Neal worked for Abby’s Pizza in Rogue River. Sports and cars were a passion for Neal. Neal’s family will be restoring his 1965 GMC Pickup in his honor. He ran track in High School, and was selected as part of an elite team for Nike. He also played the trumpet in the school band, and later lettered in Football. He graduated from Rogue River High School in 1986, and later began his career at Fred Meyer. In 1990, Neal moved with his family to Gladstone, Oregon where he continued working for Fred Meyer. In 1991, Neal met Julie Church, while she was away from college for a weekend. She was introduced to him by a mutual friend. Their first official date was at the Starlight Parade in Portland in June of 1991. In August, Neal showed her a ring while sitting on the steps of his garage and a year later they were married August 1, 1992. Neal’s first airplane ride was to Disney World for their non-traditional honeymoon. They resided in Monmouth for a short time and Neal continued with Fred Meyer, and Julie taught. They moved to Milwaukie and welcomed their first child in 1994, Spencer Neal Lockhart (Neal was the Maiden name of Neal’s Paternal Grandmother). Neal continued working for Fred Meyer as a Home Manager, and attended Clackamas Community College where he got his Associates Degree. Neal wanted to raise his family in Southern Oregon where he grew up, so in 1997 they bought their first home in Grants Pass, Oregon. Neal worked for a custom furniture maker, and Julie was teaching. In 1999, Neal welcomed his “Little Red” Nichole Landrie Lockhart. Landrie was the name of the child actress in the movie Con Air that he had watched shortly before her birth. Shortly after Nichole’s birth, Neal moved his family to Dallas, Oregon so he could pursue a career in computers. After his certification in computers, he opened his own computer repair shop and internet cafe, which evolved into a mobile computer repair business. Neal’s passion for history and politics, led him to be Polk County’s campaign organizer for President George W. Bush’s presidential campaign. In 2003, the family welcomed another girl: Landrie Allie Lockhart. Many thought he chose Landrie as a name sake for his favorite football team the Dallas Cowboy’s coach Tom Landry. Though he was an entrepreneur, his real love was his family. He was involved in Boy Scouts with Spencer, coached soccer for all three of his kids, and took the family on fishing and camping trips. The family moved to Yamhill County where Neal continued his mobile computer repair and worked as a shipping manager. He consulted and helped with campaigns to elect local officials. Neal was the first in Yamhill County to introduce sign rallies, which still continue today. While working at Shitake mushroom farm, Neal discovered a demand for oyster mushrooms. This led him to start his own organic oyster business, with the help of his wife and kids. He developed his own process for growing oyster mushrooms on straw. He supplied mushrooms to high end restaurants in Yamhill County until the building he was renting was sold. The family settled in Newberg, where he lived for the last six years. In 2018 Neal and Julie traveled to Tennessee: The Smoky Mountains. Over the years, they had traveled several times there with the family, and the plan was to retire there. Neal was just three years from seeing his dream come true. The family will continue with this plan and settle in Tennessee. Before the pandemic, Neal worked as a shipping manager, until he made the ultimate sacrifice for his family in 2020. He quit his job to teach 1st grade to his granddaughter Madalynn, while she was learning virtually. His granddaughter (age 7) was his pride and joy. He was her Papa. He started his own online Ebay business, selling high end Men’s clothing and sports memorabilia and attire. Sundays were reserved for football. Neal was an avid Dallas Cowboys fan, and had quite a collection of signed memorabilia, including a seat from Texas Stadium. Julie sent him to Seattle to see his first Cowboys’ game with his friend Wade. Neal loved playing fantasy football with his old church friends from Dallas, Oregon and he was league champion several years in a row. Neal had a great love for animals. He was a “cat whisperer”, and his buddy Peanut would sit on him every day. Neal loved vintage cars and was working on restoring his 1965 GM truck and Camaro. Neal loved his 80s Rock bands. Not only could he name any song by a group, but the album and year, which each song came from. The last concert he attended was with his wife to see Kiss in Portland, Oregon in 2019. Though his family had not found a church to call their own while living in Newberg, they attended Christmas Eve service every year. Neal was saved and knew he had a place reserved for him with Jesus. Neal was preceded in death by his BIL Jeff Church in 1996, and his father Robert Neal Lockhart in 1997. Neal is survived by his wife Julie of 29 years, son Spencer, daughters Nichole(Matt) and Landrie(Kenny), granddaughter Madalynn, brother T.J, nephew Jacob, brother Geoff(Amy), nephews Elijah, Isaiah, and Noah, sister Shonna Kimble(Bill), nephew Zach, in laws Norm Church(Bonnie),mother Georgia Lockhart-Brown(Dick), and many, many friends. Life will never be the same without hearing “Pickle Rick!”. Donations in remembrance of Neal can be sent via Venmo to his wife Julie Lockhart @Julie-Lockhart-12 or mailed to the Lockhart’s 1007 Elliott Rd. Newberg, Oregon 97132. A Celebration of Life will beheld at the Calvary Chapel, 1825 NW 2nd St., McMinnville, OR 97128 on Saturday, November 20th at 2:00 PM. Please wear bright clothing or 80s Rock music T-shirts (ACDC, Kiss, etc.) Reception to follow We know there are friends and family who are unable to attend Neal’s Celebration of Life therefore it will be live streamed at https://subspla.sh/wn5vgjm

Neal Robert Lockhart

August 28, 1968 - October 23, 2021