Jimmy Neil

Jimmy Neil, age 55, of Cave Junction, died Friday, August 12, 2011 as a result of an automobile accident.

Jimmy was born January 20, 1956 in Olympia, Washington to James & Diane Neil. He was raised in Torrance, California where he attended schools including Torrance High School. After moving to Grants Pass, Oregon when he was 17 years old, he attended Rogue Community College. Jimmy lived in Sunny Valley for ten years and for the past 20 years lived in Cave Junction. He was a mosaic tile setter and was a member of the tile setters union. He was well known in the Illinois Valley for his trade.

Jimmy’s passion was sports officiating. He was a member of the Rogue Valley Sports Officiants and officiated football and baseball games of all ages up to the junior college level.

Survivors include two daughters, Leza Lopez of Portland, Oregon and MacKenzie Neil of Cave Junction, Oregon; his mother, Diane J. Zumbrunnen of Bakersfield, California; two sisters, Robyn Ross of Randall, Washington and Jamie Smith of Ensenada, Mexico; a brother, Norman Plotkin of Sacramento, California; a granddaughter, Siena Lopez of Portland, Oregon; and an uncle, Kelly Rarey of Grants Pass, Oregon.

He was preceded in death by a brother, David Plotkin in 1988.

A gathering of family and friends will be held at a later date. Illinois Valley Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements.