Nov. 27, 1976 – Jan. 29, 2016
Neil Allen Nightingale, 39, of Sweet Home, died Jan. 29, 2016.
He was born Nov. 27, 1976 in Corvallis to Gary Allen and Annette (Slek) Nightingale.
He attended Lacomb Elementary from first through eighth grade (1983-1991), and Lebanon High School, where he graduated in 1995, in the top 10 percent. He was an active Cub and Boy Scout and earned his Eagle rank. He raced BMX bikes and rode three-wheelers with his family every weekend growing up.
Mr. Nightingale raced and rode motocross in his teens through mid-20s at Albany Race Track. He loved the outdoors, camping, hunting and fishing, etc. His passion was his family and trucking. He most enjoyed his Friday trucking time with his co-pilot and son, Ryder Allen Nightingale, 6.
Mr. Nightingale began his log truck driving career at age 19 (1996) for Nightingale Trucking, which was owned by his parents.
His father taught him how to take pride in maintaining a good-looking truck and Mr. Nightingale had one of the best-kept log trucks that ran on I-5.
He worked alongside his father, then began working for his current employer Ted Hufford with Timberline Logging on Nov. 1, 2004.
Mr. Nightingale moved to Sweet Home in September of 1999, where he has resided since. He first met his wife Tami in 2000 as an orthodontia patient at Wolthuis Family Dentistry, where Tami was a dental assistant. They began their friendship, seeing each other every month for adjustments until they began dating Dec. 8, 2005.
They were engaged in June 2006 and married Oct. 21, 2006.
Mr. Nightingale chose the date because it was his “Lucky Number 21.”
Mr. Nightingale is survived by his wife Tami (Brown) Nightingale; son Ryder Allen; step-daughter Alyssa Logan-Orr and son-in-law Keven Orr; and his parents, Gary and Annette Nightingale, all of Sweet Home; two sisters, Tara and brother-in-law Chris DiSante of Lebanon, and Tesia and brother-in-law Joby Oliver of Redmond; father- and mother-in-law Butch and Karen Brown; sister- and brother-in-law Wendy and David Younger; two grandchildren; three nieces; three nephews; aunts, uncles, cousins and his 12-year-old best (canine) friend Heineken “Heini”; along with many friends and other family members who loved him dearly.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents; and uncle and best friend James C. Nightingale.
A celebration of life is planned for 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 5, at Sweet Home High School Auditorium.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made in his name to Wells Fargo, gofundme Neil Nightingale funeral and support fund, or to the Sweet Home Funeral Chapel.
Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements.