Obituary of Neal Leonard Ause

Neal Leonard Ause ~ 58 Ridgefield, Washington May 5, 1958 ~ December 16,2016 Neal Leonard Ause, 58, died suddenly and unexpectedly on December 16, 2016 while working on a landscaping project at his beloved family homestead in Ridgefield, WA. The date was significant in that it was the two year anniversary of his mother’s death and the 122nd anniversary of his beloved grandmother Florence’s birth date. The cause of death was coronary artery disease. A self-proclaimed introvert, Neal’s life was devoted to family, work and the maintenance of the Dr. Ralph and Florence Stryker House and gardens (listed on the Clark County Heritage Register since 2007). A true labor of love, Neal considered the Ridgefield property his sacred trust and he worked tirelessly to maintain and preserve it for posterity. When not commuting back and forth to Portland, you could usually find him puttering in his well-stocked, basement workshop, attending to a never ending list of “chores” around the house and yard or tending to the needs of one or more family members. He loved to discuss current events, economics, human psychology and the meaning of life while sitting on the wrap around porch (summer) or in front of a blazing fire (winter). A lifelong Mariners fan, trips to Safeco Field were a frequent and welcome holiday excursion when visiting Seattle. Neal was a man of substance and principle which were derived from continuous observation and study of the human condition. His strength of conviction and solid sense of himself as a man came from a deep, inner strength that others were instinctively drawn to. He made people feel “seen” and loved, and therefore, safe. This was perhaps his greatest gift. The oldest of three children of Orval and Janet Ause, Neal was born in Seattle, WA on May 5, 1958. He moved to McMinnville, OR with his family in 1972 graduating from McMinnville Senior High School in 1976. While living in McMinnville he began a decades long career with Safeway, starting as a courtesy clerk bagging groceries and working in various positions over the years including produce, stocking, checking, IT Help Desk, and eventually IT installation. Neal moved to Eugene to attend the University of Oregon in September 1977. However, he soon became disillusioned by academic life, and discontinued his formal education after only one term. He spent the next 20 years studying at the “University of Safeway” as he fondly referred to it. He married Holly Ebert in 1983 and became an instant parent to stepson Michael and stepdaughter Jennifer. In November 1989, Holly and Neal were blessed with the birth of a third child, a daughter, Katrina. The family moved to Tigard in 1992 and Neal began working at Nike in 1996. He and Holly divorced in 1997 and Neal moved into the Stryker House in Ridgefield, WA, with his mother and grandmother. From the mid to late 90’s, Neal worked on the road opening Nike Town stores all across the globe. Eventually he re-located to the Netherlands to work at Nike’s European HQ. While in Europe, Neal met and married his second wife, Heidi Neal, in 2003. At that time he moved back to the U.S. at the urging of his children and bought the Ridgefield homestead from his mother. Janet moved across the street and Neal cared for her until her death in 2014. Neal and Heidi both worked for Nike at the Beaverton based World HQ office. In February 2007, they celebrated the birth of their daughter, Lily Florence. Neal and Heidi divorced in May 2010. In February 2009, through a series of fateful events, Neal reconnected with his first love and high school sweetheart, Cathy Gordon. Neal and Cathy had maintained a deep and enduring bond across time and distance, each gaining inspiration from the other, in absentia, over the course of three decades. Against all odds, they were able to forge an abiding life partnership that endured until Neal’s untimely death. Neal gained two more step-daughters in his relationship with Cathy, helping her raise her youngest daughter Sophia, for the last eight years of his life. Neal and Cathy had the honor of hosting the wedding of his daughter Katrina in the summer of 2016 at the Ridgefield homestead. This significant family event brought together Neal’s entire “tribe” with five of his six children and their respective families in attendance. His love and joy knew no bounds that day. Neal will be remembered as a man with a great capacity to love. He was a paradox to many; fully engaged in the materialism of our world, while also possessing a deeply spiritual and mystical world view which guided his every action. For those of us lucky enough to be “stranded” with him, his enduring impact will continue to carry us through the days, weeks, months and years we will continue to live here without his physical presence. Neal was preceded in death by his father, Orval Leonard Ause (March 3, 2016) and mother, Janet Anne Stryker Ause (December 16, 2014). Neal is survived by his life partner, Cathy Gordon; stepson, Michael (Danielle) McGinty; stepdaughter, Jennifer (Peter) McGinty Delmar; stepdaughter, Michelle Gould; daughter, Katrina (Todd Mauvais) Ause; stepdaughter, Sophia Borgeson; daughter, Lily Neal-Millar; grandchildren Johnny Delmar, Joanna Delmar and Sloan McGinty; sister, Gaye (Robert) Croft; brother, Wayne (Kendra Hogue) Ause; niece, Madison Croft and nephew, Carter Ause and stepmother, Wanita Ause. Neal is also survived by the mothers of his children, Holly Juttelstad and Heidi Neal-Millar.