Obituary: Clukey, Neil R.

CLUKEY,
Neil R.

Loving husband, father, grandfather and great- grandfather passed away October 30, 2012 at the VA Hospital in Spokane, surrounded by family and friends.
He was born January 27, 1937 in Spokane to George F. and Lily May (Fanshier) Clukey.

He married the love of his life, LeAnn Gibson on December 7, 1956.

He was in the Navy for nine years until he “jumped out of a perfectly good airplane” and was seriously injured, remaining in a wheelchair for 50 years until his death.

Before his accident, he received many awards for pistol shooting on the Navy team.
After his accident, he studied and became an architectural draftsman in southern California.

They later moved to Spokane where he opened RC Hobby of Spokane with business partner, Stan Harriman.

Because of health issues, he sold that business and built intricate model planes.

His work was meticulous in detail.

During this time he was also active in his boy’s lives as their Boy Scout leader.

He loved attending hot rod and car shows, wheeling around in his distinctive black top hat, and building a few street rods of his own.

His cars were his passion and he just doted on his one-off Chevy that won a few awards at shows.

He and LeAnn later became RV’ers and traveled the country for awhile until deciding to design and build a house and settle in Post Falls, ID.

He enjoyed having friends and family around him, opening their home for many church gatherings.

(Remember the grilled steaks and chicken?)

Neil was an impressive man who spoke his mind.

He was open about his beliefs and was not afraid to let one know where he stood, so to speak.

His sense of humor kept him and those around him uplifted.

He was preceded in death by his father, George (Ruth) Clukey; mother, Lily (Chuck) McNulty; brother, Doug, and grandson, Kyle Hutchings.
He is survived by his brother, Darrell (Sheryl) Clukey, Portland, OR; son, Scott, Post Falls, ID, Priscilla Miller, grandson, Hunter Clukey, Teri (Don) Perry and granddaughter Sheri (Bat) Ballao, great- grandchildren Thea, Ben and Kai; daughter, Lizabeth (Richard) Moree, Missoula, grandchildren Melissa (Mark) Schlader, Lewiston, ID, grandson Derek (Hanna) Morree, Huson, MT and David Moree, Shelby MT and great-granddaughter Chauntel Frakie, Missoula, MT; son, Darryl (Janna) Clukey, Porta Verde Beach, FL, grandchildren Alexis and Connor; son, Cameron (Sharon) Clukey, Twin Lakes, ID, grand- children, Austin, Alicia and Tyler Hart, Brendon, Courtney, Nicholas and Ethan Clukey, Canada; along with may friends.
Services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, November 9, 2012 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 1824 E. 16th Ave., Post Falls, with interment to follow Evergreen Cemetery, 2834 N. Spokane St., Post Falls, with full military honors.

Spokane Cremation and Funeral Service has been entrusted with final care arrangements.