Jerry Maynard Neff, beloved husband of Linda, father of Stacy Moll and Steven Neff (Heather),
grandfather, great grandfather, uncle, great uncle, and godfather, passed away at home May 29,
2024.
Jerry was born May 26, 1938, in Colfax, WA, the middle child of Audrey and Maynard Neff. He
spent his young childhood in Saint John, WA, which he described as an ideal childhood. The
family moved to Silverton, OR, where he graduated from Silverton High School in 1956.
Jerry's adult life was one of service. He was a radioman in the U.S. Navy on a Marlin P5M float
plane squad. He was stationed in Alameda, CA, Whidbey Island, WA, and Iwakuni, Japan. In
Japan, he flew in international airspace monitoring submarine routes along the coast of red China.
He was proud that in his four and a half years with the Navy, he was never on a ship. Following
being honorably discharged and returning home to Silverton, he was greeted by members of the
CIA who offered a trip to the Pentagon to talk about a job opportunity. Once there, they would
not say what the job entailed, only that he would be away for months at a time. Not willing to be
away from his family, he declined the offer.
Jerry worked providing customer service with Salem Electric, becoming general manager of the
Clatskanie PUD. Later, while working for Utility Systems and Applications, his favorite job was
being flown into remote Alaska to work for a week in a small station, behind a strong fence to
keep out Grizzly and Polar bears.
Jerry planted a filbert orchard in 1990, and enjoyed everything about the process of farming.
During his working career he volunteered at the Silverton Fire Department, as communications
officer for Station 2, becoming captain in 1978. He is in the movie Fire, filmed in Silverton. He
was a docent at the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum for 37 and a half years, specializing
in Spruce Goose tours.
Jerry participated in several Work and Witness trips through his church, internationally and New
Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. He mostly enjoyed working with the local young people.
Jerry enjoyed snow skiing, water skiing and making road trips with his wife, family and friends.
He was a member of the Vintage Chevy Club of America for decades.
After his cancer diagnosis, working with Dr. Strother and the head of the OHSU Knight Cancer
Institute, Jerry was asked to be in a trial for the drug Rydapt, which had not yet been approved by
the FDA. Jerry was very proud that since the medication was successful with him, other patients
were then given access to Rydapt.
Jerry loved Jesus and he loved his church.
Jerry is preceded in death by his parents, brother Roger who died at the age of 29, due to Agent
Orange, and his sister Patti.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in his name either to the Silverton Fire Department,
819 Railway NE, Silverton, OR 97381. Or Salem First Church of the Nazarene.
A Celebration of Life will be held July 7, 2024, at 2:30PM at Salem First Church of the
Nazarene, 1550 Market St NE, Salem, OR 97301.