John Paul Neri

John Paul Neri, 72, passed from this life on February 19, 2015. John was born on June 26, 1942 in Manhattan, New York. He was the youngest of the 4 children born to Phillip and Lillian Neri. John was part English, part Scotch and part Italian. He grew up in the Bronx of New York City. During his early years, he worked in a pizza shop that his nephew owned. With his Italian heritage combined with the hours he spent making pizzas in his nephews’ pizza shop, he learned to make the best New York Pizza around. John would always talk of how he wanted to make real New York City Pizza for his Oklahoma family so that they would know what REAL pizza was like. On the other hand, he also admitted that he had made so many pizzas that he never could make himself cook another one. In the 1960’s, John enlisted in the Air Force where he served for 4 years and spent one tour in Greenland. By the time his four years was over, John was ranked and E5. After John left the Air Force, he became a print plate maker by trade. He spent 15+ years working in a Printing Press in New York City. In 2000, John met the love of his life, Pamela, from Stillwater, OK. 18 months later, on March 19, 2015, she said yes and they were married in John’s home state of New York. From then on, she became his world. He loved her dearly and devoted his every breath to her and their marriage of almost 14 years. John was a faithful member of the Skedee Assembly of God church for the past 6 years where he has served as a part of the Praise & Worship Team, playing the drums when needed. John was a very talented musician, just as his father and grandfather. He had a passion and love for music. He especially loved to play the keyboard and even wrote some of his own music as well. If you had ever heard him play you would never believe that he was self taught. John also loved his family greatly. He was a good man who had a huge heart. He loved to help others. There was nothing that he wouldn’t do for you. Even if you didn’t ask him, all it took was him KNOWING you needed something and he was there to lend a helping hand. When it came to hobbies, John’s number one hobby was taking care of his cats and all those that stayed around his home. He had a love for cats and had several as pets. He spent a large part of his time, taking care of, feeding and looking out after them on a daily basis. Almost every evening, he could be seen walking the block calling his cats in for the night. John was preceded in death by his parents, Phillip and Lillian Neri and his oldest brother Louis. He is survived by his loving wife of Skedee, Oklahoma, Pam, her sons, Chris Brumley of Skedee, Oklahoma, Adam Brumley of Skedee, Oklahoma, Shawn Bradley of Yale, Oklahoma, his brother, Al Neri of Smithtown, New York, his sister Jean Mazza of Smithtown, New York and several nieces and nephews. John’s memorial service will be under the direction of his Pastor, Lance Howell, at the Skedee Assembly of God Church on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2015 at 1PM.