Dean Neinast

Dean Neinast, 66, of Grants Pass died Saturday, March 1, 2008, at his home after a four-month battle with cancer. Inurnment will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at Eagle Point National Cemetery, with Bishop Lynden Woolly of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Murphy Creek Ward, officiating. Contributions may be made to the Murphy Creek Ward Missionary Fund, 568 Grandview Ave., Grants Pass, OR 97527; or to Lovejoy Hospice, 939 S.E. Eighth St., Grants Pass, OR 97526. He was born Sept. 9, 1941, in Los Angeles to Dean and Phyllis Neinast. He served in the Army and worked at Edwards Air Force Base as a firefighter before retiring from the U.S. Postal Service. In 2003, he and his wife, Virginia, moved to Grants Pass from Crescent City, Calif., where they had lived 20 years. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Studebaker Club of Southern Oregon and the Good Sam Club. He enjoyed his family and friends, cars, reading and traveling. In addition to his wife, survivors include three daughters, Genia McKilvey, Dani Costello and Bobbie Turner; two stepdaughters, Jennie Hoffman and Betty Barnes; a stepson, Gary Palmer; his stepmother, Esther Neinast; a sister, Jane Rucker; two brothers, Tom and Steven Neinast; 16 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.