Sally Neal

Date of birth  - August 20, 1958

Date of death  - January 10, 2026

Sally Neal was born on August 20, 1958, to Kelton “Kelly” and Gusta Neal at Silverton Hospital. She grew up in the Molalla area, attending Dickey Prairie Grade School, spending a short stint at Molalla Middle School for seventh grade, and then returning to Dickey Prairie for eighth grade. She went on to attend Molalla High School, graduating with the Class of 1976. She also graduated with her Bachelors degree from Eastern Oregon University, a live long goal.

Sally lived a full life—and she made sure it was an interesting one.

Growing up, her friends knew her as “Kawasaki Sally.” She was one of the most fun people to be around, and wherever Sally was, there was usually a good time not far behind. Summers meant gathering with friends at Feyrer Park, and Sally was always ready for the next adventure or celebration. Whether she was simply getting everyone together or helping plan something special, like Arnold and Melinda’s wedding reception, Sally knew how to make life more memorable.

Over the years, Sally wore more hats than most people could fit into one lifetime, both literally and figuratively. She worked as a correctional officer and a truck driver, prospected for gold, and was always looking for something new to experience. Even a year before she passed, Sally obtained her license to hunt boa constrictors in Florida. She had no real expectation that she would ever make it there to hunt them, but in true Sally fashion, she figured, “Why not?”

That sense of adventure stayed with her throughout her life.

Sally loved flamingos, rockhounding, off-roading—especially when the vehicle happened to be a rental—searching beaches at low tide for hidden treasures, collecting unusual objects, and selling her finds on eBay. The stranger the item, the better. She had an eye for oddities, an appreciation for things other people might overlook, and an endless curiosity about what might be waiting around the next corner.

But more than all the adventures, treasures, rocks, flamingos, and strange eBay finds, Sally loved her family. She shared an especially close bond with her niece Jenny, who was not only her niece but also her best friend. She truly inspired her niece to become the person she is today by expanding her horizons through amazing dining experiences, road trips, and experiencing things in the big city outside of Molalla. She was also the reason that Jenny went to college as she used to hide College books to find during her easter egg hunts.

During her final years, Sally’s niece Jenny made it a mission to take as many trips and have as many adventures with her as possible. Jenny liked to joke that together they managed to stretch Sally’s “last hurrah trip” into move than 6 trips over six years. They truly made those years count. They traveled to the 4 corners (a dream of theirs since Jenny was little), St Geoge, Mesa Verde, Idaho, Bryce Canyon, Moab, jet boating on the rouge river and even a cruise to Alaska. They had high teas, so many crepes, and copious amounts of cake, all of Aunt Sally’s favorites on each of these adventures.

Sally was fiercely loyal. If you were her friend, you were her friend for life—unless, of course, you really ticked her off. She was an avid pen pal and kept up with friends from elementary school throughout her life.

She is survived by her longtime companion, Jim Carrithers, who faithfully cared for and stood beside her through all of life’s trials; her sister, Robin Edmunds; her sister and brother-in-law, Melinda and Arnold Villalobos; and their daughter, Jenny Villalobos, Sally’s beloved niece, traveling companion, partner in adventure, and best friend.

Sally lived life on her own terms. She collected stories as readily as she collected rocks and oddities, found adventure in unexpected places, and gave the people around her plenty of memories to laugh about for years to come. She will be deeply missed, lovingly remembered, and never forgotten.