Dec. 7, 1953 – May 6, 2019
John Neil Hay Jr., 65, of Sweet Home, passed away Monday, May 6, 2019 at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Corvallis.
John was born on Dec. 7, 1953, in Hastings, Neb. to John Neil Hay, Sr. and LaVern Frances (Daniels) Hay. He was the oldest of their six children. The family lived in several states before settling in Sweet Home in 1965.
John graduated from Sweet Home High School in 1972. While in school he was a member of the swimming team and was captain his senior year.
After high school, he attended Southern Oregon College, where he was also on the swimming team.
After his time at college, John returned to Sweet Home and worked at various mills in Sweet Home. He retired from Weyerhaeuser in 2017.
John married Kathleen “Kathy” Gillespie on July 4, 1981 in Lake Tahoe, Nevada.
John was an avid hunter and fisherman. He loved the outdoors and spent a great deal of time in the woods riding his ATV and camping. He also loved spending time at the many family gatherings planned throughout the year.
John is survived by his wife Kathy of Sweet Home; son J.T. and Meaghan Lane of Spokane, Wash., son Dustin of Sweet Home, brothers Jerry and wife Bev, Jim and wife Lori, Clark and wife Angie; sister Danielle Hanscam and husband Steve, all of Sweet Home, brother Scott and wife Gretchen of Mt. Angel, mother-in-law Lin Gagner of Sweet Home, granddaughter Calista due in June, and many nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews.
He is also survived by his extended families, the Gillespies and Gagners.
He was preceded in death by his parents, nephew Casey Hanscam, niece Amy Maisto, and father-in-law Duane Gagner.
Recitation of the rosary and funeral mass were held May 11 at St. Helen Catholic Church in Sweet Home.
John’s ashes will be buried at a later date at Gilliland Cementery near his parents and father-in-law.