Traves Gregory Neff, 26, of Pace, Fla., was one of four people killed when the small plane he was piloting crashed shortly after takeoff from Peter Prince Airport in Florida just after 10 a.m. Sept. 23. The group was photographing damage from Hurricane Ivan to find areas that needed help from their church.

Born in Butler, Jan. 19, 1978, he was a graduate of Karns City High School and Hawthorn University Flight School and worked at Butler Aviation before moving to Florida in 1997. In Florida, he worked for Pensacola Aviation and Life Guard Air Ambulance and was a personal pilot for Roy Jones Jr. In 2000, he went to work for Continental Airlines as a commercial pilot, first officer.

He was a member of CALALPA and AOPA. He loved horses and driving teams and was a blacksmith.

While living in Butler, he attended Faith Fellowship Church in Oakland Township. After moving to Florida, he was an active member of Pace Assembly of God.

Mr. Neff had a generous, loving spirit. He worked daily following Hurricane Ivan with disaster relief efforts through the Pace Assembly of God and FEMA.

Surviving are his loving parents, Greg and Patee Neff of Pace; two sisters, DeAnna Scheerbaum (Allen) of Chicora and CoDee Neff of Pace; and his grandparents, William A. and Twila J. Ritchey of Parker, Robert Neff of New Brunsfield, Texas, and Shirley Meals of Guys Mills, Pa. Also surviving are a niece and nephew, LaCee and Dustin Scheerbaum, both of Chicora; and many aunts, uncles, cousins and other family members.

A brother, Preston Neff; and his special great-grandparents, "Ganny" and ""Granpap" preceded him in death.

NEFF - Friends of Traves Gregory Neff, who died Thursday, Sept. 23, 2004, will be received from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday at Faith Fellowship Alliance church, 200 Faithway Road, Oakland Township. Funeral services will follow at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the church with the Rev. Richard Jenks and the Rev. Ron Carnley officiating. Burial will be at Bear Creek Cemetery. Local arrangements are being handled by RICHARD D. HILLIS FUNERAL HOME, Petrolia.Services were also held Sept. 26 at Pace Assembly of God in Florida. Florida arrangements were handled by DONNIE SOWELL FUNERAL HOME, Milton, Fla.In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: Pace Assembly of God Bus Ministry and/or Storm/Disaster Relief Effort, for which these gave their lives.