Gilson Neill died Jan. 31, 2011, at the age of 76. He was born in 1934 to Mary and Frank Neill of Spokane Valley. Gilson attended Trentwood grade school and West Valley High School.

He joined the Navy after graduation and served two years aboard the USS Yorktown. He later went on to serve 31 years in the Naval Air Reserves. Gilson worked as a machinist for a short time at Union Iron Works of Spokane. After his marriage to Donna Orsi in 1961, the couple moved to the Seattle area where Gilson was employed by the Boeing Co. for 11 years.

Having been laid off by Boeing, Gilson went on to trade school to learn barbering. He owned and operated Lakecrest Styling Salon in Federal Way for 20 years. Gilson developed early onset Alzheimer’s, which necessitated that he retire early.

He is survived by his wife Donna, three sons, (Jeffrey, Anthony, and Robert), their wives, 5 grandchildren, and his brother Joseph of Davenport.

Services were held on Friday, Feb. 4, at St. John the Baptist’s Catholic Church in Covington. Interment will took place at 11:15 a.m. Monday, Feb. 7, at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, University of Washington, 1660 S. Columbian Way, Seattle, WA 98108. Arrangements by Edline-Yahn & Covington Funeral Chapel. Please sign the online guestbook at www.eycfc.com.