Neil Leslie Shoemaker, 62

Neil Leslie Shoemaker, 62, passed away in Chattaroy, Wash., on Sunday, Dec. 26, 2004.

Memorial services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2005, in the Riplinger Funeral Home Chapel in Spokane, Wash.

Neil was born in Sandpoint, Idaho, on Dec. 10, 1942. He attended Bonner County schools and graduated from Sandpoint High School in 1961, where he played football for coach Cotton Barlow.

He graduated from the University of Idaho with a bachelor's degree in forestry. He joined the U.S. Navy through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program, serving during the Vietnam War. He was on the USS Niagara Falls, later retiring from the U.S. Naval Reserves with the rank of lieutenant.

He lived in Puyallup, Wash., working in the dried floral business.

In 1984, he established Sunset Northwest, preserving baby's breath and shipping it to suppliers. He opened Shoemaker's Floral in Chattaroy, preserving and drying flowers. He also did private contracting in the dried floral business. He retired in 1996.

He and his son both received master's degrees from Gonzaga University in the same year.

Neil enjoyed fly fishing. He was a long-time member of the Moose Lodge and the BPOE in Webster City, Iowa.

He is survived by his wife, Ruby Shoemaker of Spokane; two sons, David (and Jan) Shoemaker of Spokane and Jonathan (and Tammy) Shoemaker of Carrollton, Texas; two grandchildren, D.J. and Ireland Shoemaker of Spokane; a brother, Dale Shoemaker of Tacoma, Wash.; two sisters, Cecelia Kenney of Wilsonville, Ore., and Judy Fosback of Spokane; and numerous nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles.

Arrangements are under the care of Coffelt Funeral Services.