Neil W. Wirick, 87, of Paradise, California, formerly of Ashton, died Friday, February 21, 2014, in Paradise.

Neil was born on April 11, 1926, in Ashton, Idaho, to Arnold and Annie (Hendricks) Wirick. He graduated from Blackfoot High School, in Blackfoot Idaho, and when WWII came, he enlisted in the US Navy, even though he was underage at the time. He proudly served on the USS Princeton, an aircraft carrier. On October 24, 1944, the ship was bombed by a Japanese plane, and many crew members were lost in the ensuing fires and explosions. Eventually the ship was lost, sending Neil into the ocean.

Having survived that ordeal, and after his honorable discharge from the Navy, he went back to school. He attended Brigham Young University where he received a BS in Science. He also attended Idaho State University, where he received his masters in education.

In 1958, he married Marian Thompson. She passed away in August of 2005.

He was a science teacher for twenty-six years before retiring. He had many interests. He taught himself how to play the piano, and he sang in the ward choirs. He tied his own flies for fishing. He also was an artist, and painted landscapes from memory, often giving beautiful oil paintings to family and friends as gifts.

He loved animals of all kinds, and had a keen interest in gems and minerals, and was involved with the Paradise Gem and Mineral Club. Another passion was designing jewelry. He made many fine custom rings for family and friends and ran his own company for many years and was a GIA certified diamond appraiser. He had an endless desire to learn something new everyday.

When it came to his religious beliefs, his attitude was the same. He dedicated his life to serving his Savior Jesus Christ, through the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He served two missions to Palmyra, New York, and then later served in the Bern, Switzerland, mission as a District President.

He will be missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him.

He is survived by one daughter, Janis Nielson, two grand- daughters, Leslie Headrick, and Katie Lorton, grandson Eric Robinson, two sisters, Betty Hawker, and Claribell Phelps, and his niece Shirley (Jim) Thompson, as well as nine great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, February 28, at the Ashton 3rd Ward LDS Chapel, with Bishop Gary Marsden officiating. Interment will be in the Pineview Cemetery with military rites conducted by the American Legion Post 89 and the Idaho Honor Guard.

Donations can be made in his memory to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, for missionary work or temple expansion projects.