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IN LOVING MEMORY OF

Neal Evan

Neal Evan Garcia Profile Photo

Garcia

December 30, 1964 – September 29, 2021

Obituary

Neal Evan Garcia passed away on Wednesday, September 29th in his home in Fresno, California with his wife, Keri. Although his 56 years on Earth don't seem like nearly enough for those mourning his loss, his family finds peace in knowing his courageous and painful 2 year battle with liver cancer is over and that his body has been healed in the arms of a loving Jesus.
Neal was born December 30th, 1964 in Dinuba, California to Marcel and Judith (Judy) Garcia. He spent most of his childhood playing outdoors with neighbor friends. He excelled in track and field and baseball at Dinuba High and went on to play baseball at Reedley College. Neal's family enjoyed vacationing at their cabin in Shaver Lake, California.
Neal thrived as a Senior Account Executive with Comcast Spotlight for 10 years, forming countless relationships in the Central Valley. His clients often became his friends because of his friendly and charismatic personality. Neal was a 8-time recipient of the company's top sales accreditation; the "Circle of Excellence" Award. His impeccable fashion sense always had him looking sporty in his eye catching suits and ties of all hues. Many wouldn't have been able to pull it off, but he did exquisitely. He radiated classiness in a corporate world that didn't do the same.
In 2011 Neal traded in his suits for squared toed Ariat boots and made a major career move to J.T. Thorpe & Son, Inc. in Richmond, California. His role as Head of Manpower and Safety was fitting for his love of people. He seamlessly organizing, managed, and staffed all aspects of 300+ workers in the year round, worldwide oil refinery construction company. But aside from handling the logistics of this role, he treated his employees with respect, empathy, and compassion. He knew their kids' and spouses names and made a point to know about their lives outside of the workplace. He poured much of his time in to his work and was blessed to be a part of a company that cared for him equally.
Neal and Keri started dating in 2006, and the rest was written in the sand. They purchased a beautiful home in Northwest Fresno and spent 15 years entertaining, cooking, improving upon, and making memories there. They enjoyed riding Neal's beloved motorcycles, Rosie and Hazel, and covered thousands of miles across the state with friends and family who loved riding also. Neal's love of all types of music took them to countless concerts in renowned venues. AC/DC and Big Head Todd and the Monsters were his ultimate favorites. Labeled as a Big Head Todd and the Monsters groupie by those that loved him most, Keri and Neal even went on the band's private yacht tour in 2015 on a sailing ship in the Caribbean. He and Keri were fortunate enough to travel often and usually chose their destinations based on great diving locations. He was a certified scuba diver and went on 50+ dives that he loved telling stories about, especially diving with the whale sharks in Isla Mujares, Mexico. When Neal was home in Fresno he never missed an opportunity to feed people. While eating breakfast he'd be thinking about what he could cook for dinner. His love of cooking came from his beloved mother, Judy, and he was typically found with a kitchen towel thrown over his left shoulder standing at the stovetop with his hand on his hip. He offered dessert before dinner, ice cream for breakfast, and notoriously spent hours wandering the grocery store aisles simply because he loved preparing and serving food. His BBQ skills were top notch, and his chili verde recipe was one for the books.
Keri's daughter, Kylie, and her husband Rusty, instantly became Neal's kids when he and Keri met. Together the 4 of them were nearly inseparable; Neal was a bonus dad, father-in-law, husband and friend all rolled in to one. Rusty and Neal enjoyed going to the golf course, concerts, bbq'ing and listening to music together. Neal was alongside Kylie and Rusty as they grew from college sweethearts to young married adults. He was always there to offer encouragement, words of advice, or a swift kick in the rear when needed. Although their bond was thicker than blood, nobody would win his heart over like his first grandson, Brooks Robert, who stole the show in April 2017. Neal lived to be a Papa, and would check in on his boy multiple times a day while away at work during the week. Weekends were spent in the pool and having sleepovers at Gigi and Papa's. Neal constantly spoke of his excitement for Brooks to be old enough to go to concerts and learn how to scuba dive with him. Brooks learned to love Chris Stapleton and JJ Grey, strum a guitar and beat the drums from Neal. Neal led Brooks' 3rd birthday parade on his motorcycle Rosie, wore his "My favorite person calls me Papa" tshirt regularly, and bought an instant blow up mattress for the living room for movie nights. Brooks didn't leave their house without a game of tag with Papa in the front yard. And even in his final ailing days, Neal got up and chased his boy knowing it may be the last. In 4 short years their relationship was something special, and although the physical bond has ended, the emotional attachment Brooks has to his Papa will carry on with the hundreds of photos, videos, and memories he has to remember his beloved grandfather. Their last time spent together was sharing a McDonald's cheeseburger Happy Meal and Papa teasing Brooks that he was a "cheese burglar" for stealing bites of Papa's dinner.
Neal rarely went anywhere without knowing somebody, if not everybody! He loved a Captain and Coke, or two, and knew no stranger. He hung out with friends at Whiskey Lane regularly while working in Richmond. He loved blankeys even during a 110 degree Fresno July, celebrated his dogs birthdays by taking them to get a ChuckWagon chili dog in Sanger and idled Rosie or Hazel into driveways quietly as to not be too loud. His Ariat boots, Diesel jeans and a rock and roll tshirt were his wardrobe standbys and he loved building a fire in the fireplace and forgetting to add more wood to it. It would be hard to find a soul on Earth that has a bad word to say about Neal, and that alone attests to the person he was, the kind heart he had, and man of integrity he was.
Neal is survived by his wife, Keri Frazier, their daughter and son-in-law Kylie and Russell Barnett, and grandson Brooks, his sister Wende Parker, nephew Ryan Parker, niece Kylee Debusky and great-nephew Jude Debusky, and his miniature pincher, 16 year old Roxy. Neal is proceeded in death by his mother and father and his beloved dogs Harlee, Rocco, and Ryka.
Graveside services
Thursday, October 14th, 11:00 am. Sanger Cemetery on Rainbow Route, Sanger, California
Officiated by Pastor Dustin Maddox

Pallbearers:
Rusty Barnett
Willy Kandarian
Weston Kandarian
Wade Kandarian
Jim Ogawa
Ryan Parker
Jamie Barnett
Garrett Giannetta
In lieu of flowers please donate to your favorite pet rescue in Neal's name.

"It's a bittersweet surrender." -Big Head Todd and the Monsters
To send flowers or plant a memorial tree in memory, please visit our flower store.

Funeral Services

Graveside Service

October
14

Sanger Cemetery

568 South Rainbow Route, Sanger, CA 93657

Starts at 11:00 am

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