John Franklin Neff of Hansville died July 13, 2007 in Hansville. He was 73.

Neff was born to Charles Thomas Neff Sr. and Elsie Gamble Neff (Walters) in Seattle on Aug. 30, 1933.

He graduated from the YMCA Technical School in Seattle and sat for FCC licenses which enabled him to sail as a radio officer on commercial vessels. He also attended Heide Brenneke School of Massage in Seattle.

Neff worked as a radio officer with Alaska Steam, Grace Lines, American Mail, Keystone Tankers and American President Lines. He retired from this work in 1990 as a master radio electronics officer, and ran Hansville Massage until a few years before his death.

He served in the U.S. Coast Guard in 1948 as a radio man.

Neff was a licensed amateur radio operator, and was a member of the American Radio Association, Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals, Maritime Mobile Amateur Radio Club, the NRA and Maritime Lodge No. 239 F&AM. In addition, he served as a volunteer firefighter with Fire District No. 14.

Neff is survived by his wife Barbara; son Charles; daughter Kara; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Neff was preceded in death by his brother Charles T. Neff, his sisters Bette Phillips and Rosemary Crawford and niece Catherine Rogers.

A celebration of his life will be held at noon July 21 at the family farm in Hansville, followed by services at 3:30 p.m. at the Hansville Cemetery.

Memorial gifts may be sent to the Hansville Cemetery Fund, P.O. Box 14, Hansville, WA 98340 in lieu of flowers.