Walter Neil Brophy was born on March 19, 1936 to Walter and Elda (Masters) Brophy. He passed away peacefully on October 30, 2023 at Green Lake Senior Living Memory Care in Lacey, Washington.

Neil was in the Navy in the 1950s, which started a life-long love of being on the ocean. Neil worked on many ships as a fisherman and engineer before taking up a career as a salesman. He loved traveling and sampling all of the local foods and visiting family and friends.

He was an avid reader and met Shari, the love of his life, at the Elma library. Neil served as President or Vice President of the Friends of the Elma Library for many years.

Neil was very active and liked snorkeling and diving for abalone, as well as skiing, motorcycles and playing the banjo and ukulele. He liked to cook and wanted to feed anyone that came to the house. Neil loved making penuche and date bars every Christmas from his mother’s recipes.

Neil lived a long, full life filled with adventures, had a great personality and was an excellent storyteller. The world was a better place with him in it.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Patrick and granddaughter Andrea. He is survived by his wife Shari, his sons, Wally and Sean Galland, grandson Max Galland and niece Shawna Brophy Martin.

A celebration of life will be held in Elma in March.