On July 12th surrounded with love Neal walked on to the great journey. Born as Herbert Neal Smith on June 4th 1952 and the only child to parents Herbert Elmer Smith and Mary Ellen Clayton Smith. Neal relayed he had a step brother named Jack F. Husted. Neal found a calling to activism being aware, yet disconnected from his Indigenous Shawnee identity. Through Anti-war gatherings for human rights, his keen analysis of politics and anti-establishment, protection of free speech, and seeing need for factual news, he found pursuit of purpose. Inspired to help the world be a better place for all. From the broken treaties, many causes through the times of the 1960's, Civil Rights outrages, through music, peaceful movements, even following the Grateful Dead defined him. His kind natured parents nurtured his peacful spirit and Neal could not sit idel to witness injustices. Driven by the peace in his heart. It's not surprising he decided to pursue further development for his purpose after supporting science project coverage and background activities participating in the Atom Dust School News Paper in 1970 before graduating Thomas Carr Howe High School in 1971. He was inspired to develop further in his passion for grammer, technical and social writing, and science, through political critiques and his new found love of photography. He aimed formalizing a desired career into journalism, a vehicle for change.  Neal was already very well and out spoken as he grew into the Hippie we all know. 

He had a dog named Blackie. Neal loved animals, nature, the sky, and the birds so they were most his photo subjects and his images were beautiful. He became Cheif Photographer for the Tip Sheets at a Rock 'n Roll Radio Station, WIUS, for their Newspaper. If a band played within driving distance of Bloomington IN, Neal photographed it. He supported the Indiana Daily Student newspaper and freelanced for the Associated Press through graduation from Indiana University with a double major B.A. in Journalism and Sociology by 1975. All while meeting his first wife and having his first daughter Laylah which elevated his commitments bringing and protecting life into the world. He gravitated from radio news to video to film editing, TV broadcasting, and worked as a private investigator learning evidentiary photography continuous in his pursuit of human rights, equality, natural medicine, dismantling white supremacy, and bureaucracy through political movements toward foreseeable change. Eventualy,  Neal and Laylah's mother, Mary, would divorce and he remarried his second wife Patricia. Neal spoke highly of his daughter, Tiffany, where by he found even more passion to stand up countering racial inequality he said. Neal worked towards women's rights, especialy having more daughters Jennifer, and then twins Kelsey and Samantha, though Patricia and Neal would also end their marriage shortly after the announcement of the twins. Neal then met and fell in love with Terri. Once more blended our family with additional daughters Andrea and Bethany by July of 1990. Neal and Terri then welcomed fur daughter and beloved Scottish Terrier Christmas Snowflake Obsidian into our family. Eventually a Quaker Parrot named Jasper, a chocolate Dauchsand he named Bosco after a favorite childhood drink, Baxter, and Iko too. Neal and Terri made a life and jewelry and wood crafts together. Neal was into leather crafting and he loved learning, researching, history, and making meaningful gifts for holidays. All while writting for the Trader Paper, working for Fox Photo, he co-founded the Green Party in Indiana, wrote a book, made really bad puns, and created meaningful memories over those next twenty years making formal vowes in 1998. Every holiday, wedding, graduation, family event captured by the camera, there he was behind the view. His political and volunteer activities, however good they are, at times compromised his time attention and presence for family roles eventually ending in another divorce, though in healing they remained soul friends. Neal quickly remarried finding a new connection and life partner in Patricia Ann. Whereby gaining a son Christopher and more fur kids Duncan, KiKi, Spike, and Charlie. As our blended families aged he too was outspoken for LGBTQIAP2+ and gender equity. 

Neal fell ill while on one of his long walks as he loved to hike and treck, often alone seeking amazing opertunties to capture another beautiful photo. He marched with many for good cause and spoke on the commitee which eventually led to the passing of HB1137, and supported challenges to religious freedom. Relentless for green sustainable energy, natural medicine, planetary health, well being of people, and anti-Regan racist policies which create police brutality and school to prison pipelines, he never backed down from speaking out against hate. In his retirement from Kroger and through the pandemic he took up birding, storm, and lunar immagry while continuing rigorously for freedom causes.

News of cancer came September of last year. Family, friends, activists stepped up in times of need and family and friends made more time to visit and spend time with Neal. Know he was very grateful for this.  Supporting each other, co-creating peace and comfort especially toward the end, for our love of an old grey.

The last hospital stay he was sitting looking out the window when I came in. He updated me of the news and relayed his weighted heart and fear when the word hospice was spoken by his doctor. He said, "They've given up on me kid and I thought I could beat this thing but apparently it is fiercely winning. I feel so unprepared because I have so many things I wanted to get done, like letters to you all and finishing the work too you know. Things I wanted to say and do but I fear I've run out of time. You know me Drea. I'm a peaceful man who's also never been affraid to stand up to anyone, for anything and everyone, but I have to say in all honesty, I'm afraid of what is to come in dying. The burdening of others to help me get around bothers me and the discomfort is consuming. But I know I will keep fighting. I am not ready to give up just yet." We spoke of the universe, spiritual healings, made jokes and had several rootbeer parties but on that day, I asked him if he wanted me to continue the work of locating his Shawnee ansestors for the girls, as it would take considerable time to try for Tribal Sovereignty. Pops relayed his gratitude in seeking. To continue for the kids, but that he was happy being who he was. That his ties to his people, wisdom, and respect were in his heart. That "no government could take" of him.

Be this the reminder the way of our people. In a quote he posted around the 2020 election he said "the alternative is to turn it all over to a bunch of Fascists who want to enslave anyone who is not a straight, white, christian man, led by a totalitarian dictator wannabee.." "where 'people of color' seem to be made forever oppressed and suppressed and women regarded as mere property", made me proud to acknowledge how he shaped our hearts and where we get it from.  How he was the one person who understood the assignment who was not always himself understood.  

On that day before I left, he said, "I know there were times I could have been better, and well I can't go back now and I know that, but I love you all and all my kids, blood or not. No matter what cause I was fighting for. Because I just wanted to help make this place a little bit better for everyone not just myself. I did what I could do about it you know." I told him he taught us all so much it is impossible to sit down and allow racism, sexism, and tyrannical zealots perpetuating status quo to do harm. That I was grateful to have him more a Dad as I had ever known.  That none of us are complicit, because of him. Some more than not but that it was time for him to rest. To let it go knowing we all would keep pulling the strings of oppression, healing, awakening, and creating common memories out here in his honor. Not to worry about the work to just be and give thanks. To say everything he needs to and make peace for his walk. To send us songs and memories from time to time, that we would celebrate his journey to the great beyond, and stay by his side until he was ready.

Neal came home from the hospital and we were all delighted to throw one big 71st and last birthday bash for him. Old friends and colleagues came to the house and visited. He almost always a party of company at his side which is very appreciated and was comforting for him. 

I want to express in the most gratitude for his wife Pat for caring for him in this time and allowing us all to be part of this chapter. To Chris and the girls too walking through the trials dropping everything to help out.  To Geri and Jim Twitty and Bill and Roo Levine for your ever loving commitment to friendship and unconditional love. For marching, standing, and sitting with and for your old friend through several decades, a gratitude beyond. For all the nurses and care givers, we are all immeasurably thankful many times. To all fellow children of Mother Earth who donated time resources, effort, and to every affiliate group, political or spiritual, to those who made videos posts shared pictures, in celebrating Neal's Life journey, forever grateful to you all.

Neal leaves behind many familar ties, of those mentioned above as well as cousin Dave, Chuck, Casper, and grandchildren Avery, Donovan, Ally, Corrie, and Jocelyn, fur kids, and many more like Steve Dillon. Gratitude to all the friends walking in pluralism and equity, with emboldened inspired spirits and open minds out there collaborating for better future of inclusion, justice, solidarity, peace, change, and the freedom to value life. Never give up. Neal's last advice was, "You have got to do everything you can do, and when you've done that, you have to live your life for You. No matter what anyone says about it. Stand your ground. Make it count. Make what matters Matter. I'll fight until the day I die for that."

The rest is up to us. Through forgiveness, healing, love, passion, honor, and new agreements, we can celebrate Neal's teachings everyday. To know him was to love him. We all shared a story with Neal. We created common memories that will forever be with us. That is the gift. So dance to the music, make love happen, create art, grow food, protect the water, love who you love, go your own way, and keep inspiring and supporting each other and those around. We have not strangers amung us, just friends we don't know yet. Those who bravely walk on before us, will meet us again. Sometimes many times. As we elevate creation may we be reminded in this moment that we are all children of Mother Earth. Life matters and that is why death calls to remind us to celebrate life, leaving no time to postpone joy. With unconditional love and healing to you all and as Neal would say, "You know none of us get out of here alive." and "Stand for something", we put our prayers on the wind.

So it is. 

The circle of family and friends are welcome to join us at 3400 S Rural St, Indianapolis, IN 46237 in celebration of beloved Skywolf. 

We begin at 2 pm Eastern on Sunday July 30th.  Come as you are even if you like being laminated. Hey Now! Love Peace and Healing. 

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