Our father, Gerrit “Bud” Neevel, was born to Isaac and Anna Neevel in Bellingham on June 19, 1925, and he passed serenely early Sunday morning, Sept. 22, 2019.
Bud grew up on Neevel family farms in Whatcom and Island counties with his sister Fran. He had one true sweetheart in his life, Linda May Noteboom, from Noon Road in Lynden, and he married her on Aug. 16, 1954. Together they settled at Richmond Beach, in north Seattle, where they raised four children, Edward (wife Liz), Anne (husband Howard, children Scott and Alison), Larry, and Clair (wife Donna, children Ray and Madelyn).
In 1962, when the World’s Fair came to Seattle, Bud started his own company, Neevel Trucking & Supply. Early on, he and other entrepreneurial-minded trucking company owners built a large part of Interstate 5 in Washington. Later, his long working career was highlighted by contract service to the King County Public Works department, whereby he and his company, with help from his sons, built up the river banks in preparation for the winter rains to come. Bud was a free thinker who had a slogan for nearly everything. He also was a tireless hard-working, dedicated family man who could be counted on to be found at one of two places: either out on the job site or at home! Bud was a true Northwest pioneer and a product of an early 20th century upbringing, who also had quite a passion for operating a gill net fishing boat on the side … even his hobbies involved work! After nights fishing out near Point Roberts north of Bellingham, Bud could be seen throughout Whatcom County delivering fresh sockeye salmon to both sides of his family, people he cherished and loved.
Bud was preceded in death by his loving wife, Linda; his sister, Francis Milholland; his parents, Isaac and Anna; and several aunts and uncles.
He is survived by his immediate family noted above; sister-in-law Dorothy Noteboom; brother-in-law William (Bill) Noteboom; several cousins, and many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service to celebrate Bud’s life will be in Gillies Funeral Home, 202 Front St., Lynden, at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 2. Family and friends are welcome to attend.
Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Gillies Funeral Home and Cremation Services.
