Celebration of Life service will be April 22, 2017, 2:00 p.m. at Woodlawn Funeral Home, 5930 Mullen RD SE, Lacey, WA 98503

Reception immediately following the service at Woodlawn Funeral Home

Neal Thomas King Kohout, age 22, of Olympia, Washington, died the afternoon of April 9, 2017 in Olympia.  Neal was born on September 2, 1994, in Murray, Utah and spent his formative years from first grade through the middle of his sophomore year of high school in Park City, Utah.  At 15, he moved with his mother to Olympia, where he attended Olympia High School.  Neal worked at Safeway Grocery in Tacoma, Washington as a valued Deli Department associate and member of the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 367.

Neal loved his family, and his family loved him.  Neal shared a very special bond with his beloved dog, Zelda.  Neal grew up enjoying an active lifestyle and loved skateboarding, paintball, music, guitar, gaming, wakeboarding, snowboarding and skiing in his cherished Wasatch Back. As a boy, Neal always looked forward to family trips to Ft. Walton Beach, FL where he loved the beach and spending time with his adoring grandparents. Neal was fiercley loyal to friends with whom existed a shared love and dedication for one another.

Neal had many endearing qualities and gifts, not the least of which were his sharp sense of humor and quick wit. His humorous observations and spontaneous quips were a frequent source of much welcomed entertainment, smiles, and laughter for friends and family.

Neal died of a heroin overdose following a long recovery. But, there was so much more to Neal than this.  Neal possessed a beautiful, gentle, kind and sensitive soul while also being brave, strong, courageous, and brilliant.  Neal was a beloved son, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin, and friend. We will always remember Neal for his enormous heart and beautiful smile, and he will be forever missed by all who knew him. 

Neal is survived by his mother, Linda Sue King, of Olympia, and his sister, Audrey Lin King Kohout of Minneapolis, Minnesota; his aunt, Denise (Adam) Galey, and cousins Tyler, Jessica, and Nicole Galey, all of Robinson, Illinois; his uncle Thomas Brown, of Robinson, Illinois, and cousins Paul Christy of North Carolina, and Victoria and Samantha Christy, of Robinson, Illinois; his uncle Robert (Shelley) Stephenson, of Robinson, Illinois, and cousin Sean Stephenson of Colorado.

Also surviving are his father, James Thomas Kohout, of Pennsylvania; his uncle, Stephen Kohout, of Virginia; his aunt Diana (Robert) VanKirk, and cousins Kathleen, Sarah, and Robert VanKirk, all of Pennsylvania; his aunt Stefanie (Daniel) Olson, and his cousin, Taylor Olson all of Virginia.

Preceding Neal in death were his maternal grandparents, Sharon Dianne and Gerald Lee Stephenson, his maternal aunt Cynthia Dianne Brown, all of Robinson, Illinois; paternal grandparents, Richard and Jean Ellen Kohout, Pennsylvania (formerly of Downers Grove, Illinois) and Neal’s beloved dog, Zelda.

His family is comforted by the knowledge that Neal was in recovery, he was looking ahead and had plans for the future, and he was so very loved by so many of his friends. His warm smile and kind heart will be painfully missed by all who knew and loved him.

There will be a celebration of Neal’s life Saturday, April 22, 2017 from 2 to 4 pm at the Woodlawn Funeral Home in Lacey, WA.  Dr. Silvia Behrend will conduct the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Tucker’s Fund at Animal Services, 3120 Martin Way East, Olympia, WA 98506. Tucker’s Fund provides for emergency veterinary services for injured dogs.  Donations of items found on the wish list at jointanimalservices.org may be brought to the service and will be taken to Animal Services following the celebration.