Stony Hays Jr. Obituary (1924

Stoney Hays, 90 of Mabton passed away on June 22, 2014, he was born April 26, 1924 in Tonasket, WA to Rose and Asa Hays Sr. Dad grew up in the Kennewick area in tough times and liked to tell stories about hunting coyotes with a neighbors hounds for bounty money and cowboying. He was a star basketball player and boxer. At home he always had a love for horses he was either working with them or raising them along the way, from breaking Indian ponies to delivering goods to ranches in the old White Bluffs area with his buckboard wagon and team of mules. When the Hanford sight started he was one of the local cowboys that was hired to move livestock off the range, he was horse back for 17 days straight. He moved to the Valley his Sr. year in High School and met Mom and started his family. He then went to work for Tegarden that was bought by Safeway where he retired after 35 years. Along the way he was a great father to his 7 children and was an awesome grandpa he worshiped his grandchildren and the time he spent with them. Dad would drop everything to help any one out that needed it and had a way of making friends out of strangers where ever he went. In his later years when a name of an old friend came up he would say whoever it was, was best friend he ever had (Dad had more best friends than any one else in the world). Stoney was preceded in death by his wife Louise Hays, sisters; Polly, Ethel, and Betty and Half siblings; Jim, Bud, and Berniece. He is survived by his daughters; Shonnie Scarola (John) of Post Falls Idaho, Connie Burse of Port Orchard, Claudia Stewart of Zillah, LaDonna Schilperoot(Don) of Sunnyside and sons Audie Hays of Sunnyside, Jeff Hays of Mabton and Tony Hays (Stephanie) of Mabton. Best Best Friends June Bates, Karen Clark and Bill Mandrell, and many, many grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grand children all knew him as “Papa Hays” and his special nephew Sam Hays. Graveside services will be held 1:00 pm Saturday June 28, 2014 at Lower Valley Memorial Gardens in Sunnyside with a reception to follow at the Eagles in Sunnyside.In Leiu of flowers donations can be sent to Lower Valley Hospice. Valley Hills Funeral Home in Sunnyside is in care of all arrangements. Condolences can be sent to www.valleyhillsfh.com