More detail on this person: Mr Stephen V Hailey, 63 of Mesa, Washington In Memory Of...B3 1-2-09 Tri-City Herald (Kennewick, WA) - Thursday, January 1, 2009 State Representative Stephen V. Hailey, of Mesa, WA., died Sunday, December 28, 2008, at his home with his family by his side. Steve was born on January 29, 1945, to Lester and Virginia (Valentine) Hailey in Seattle where his parents were stationed during WWII. Nine months later he moved with his family to the ranch in Mesa that was begun in 1909 by his grandfather and uncle. He was raised in Mesa and attended school in Connell, WA, graduating from Connell High School in 1963. During that time he worked with his father on the family ranch raising fat cattle and dry and irrigated wheat. After high school he attended college until 1967 when he was drafted into the U.S. Army. Steve attended the Army helicopter training school at Ft. Wolters, in Mineral Wells, Texas, where he met Patricia McAmis. Steve served in Vietnam from 1968-69 in the Assault Helicopter Company, Flying Special Operations Group Missions. During his enlistment Steve received many decorations including: The Distinguished Flying Cross, The Air Medal and the Bronze Star. After returning to the States, Steve married Patricia in Fort Worth, Texas, on November 29, 1969. After his discharge he returned to the family ranch where he enjoyed being involved in the day to day operations of farm life. In 2006, Steve was elected to the Washington State House of Representatives, District 9. He was re-elected in 2008. He was the President of Hailey Company, Inc., a member and past president of Washington Cattlemen's Association (1998-99), and National Chairman of the Cattlemen's Beef Promotion and Research Board in 1999. His other memberships included the Washington State Farm Bureau, Washington Wheat Growers Association, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Special Operations Association, and the NRA. Steve served his local community by being on the Franklin County Planning Commission for 10 years and as a Commissioner for the Franklin County Fire District #1. He then served the people of the 9th Legislative District as a member of the State House of Representatives from 2006 through 2008. He was re-elected in November of 2008 to another two year term. In his private life he loved flying and belonged to the "Mesa Air Corps," a neighborhood group flying single engine tail-draggers. He was proud of refurbishing and flying his 1947 Aeronca Champ airplane. Steve loved life, had a marvelous ability of talking to anyone about anything at anytime, fishing in his own "special" pond and starting his day with a "little male bonding at the coffee shop" in Mesa. He is survived by his wife, Patricia of Mesa; his children, B.J. Hailey (Lindsay) of Mesa and Suzie Hartley (Mark) of Connell; his only grandchild, Colby Hartley of Connell; his mother, Virginia V. Hailey of Madera, CA; his father, Lester C. Hailey of Lake Stevens, WA; his sisters, Leslie Hailey Hurst (Joe) of Jamestown, CA, and Melissa Hailey Layne (Loren) of Madera, CA; and sister-in-law, Carol Miller (Gary) of Othello; and numerous nieces, nephews, uncles and cousins. A celebration of Steve's life will be held at the Connell Community Center on Saturday, January 3, 2009, at 2:00 p.m. Memorials are suggested to the Tri-City Cancer Center, the American Cancer Society or the Washington Cattlemen's Association Endowment Trust Fund. Hailey remembered as man of virtue Tri-City Herald (Kennewick, WA) - Sunday, January 4, 2009 Five hundred friends joined the family of Stephen Vey Hailey, a longtime Mesa farmer and a state legislator, to say goodbye Saturday. The Connell Community Center was standing room-only for the memorial service, which was attended by a half-dozen state legislators and Reps. Doc Hastings and Cathy McMorris Rodgers, both R-Wash. Hailey, who died of cancer Dec. 28, was 63. Hailey, who grew up on the family ranch in Mesa, spent his life working the land and raising cattle save for his service in the Army in Vietnam and his time in Olympia representing the 9th legislative district. "We are here to celebrate his accomplishments, his commitment to family, community and issues important to this state and country. And to his character," said Don Cox, former state representative who officiated at the service. Known as a problem solver and good listener, Hailey was eulogized as a gentleman who valued relationships, especially with his buddies at the Mesa Coffee Shop. "Steve Hailey epitomized public virtue. He grew wiser by accepting one challenge after another," said Dennis Calfee of Gainesville, Fla., a childhood friend who spoke at the service. Calfee described his friend as "always evolving, expanding his intellect, happy with the accomplishments of others." Hailey, a firm conservative politically, was "thoughtful of opinions of others" and "was not afraid to change his opinion," Calfee said. State Senator Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, said, "Steve was a great American to his community and his country." Joe Schmick, R-Colfax, said Hailey was so well respected in Olympia that "people stood and cheered when he entered the caucus room." State representatives Maureen Walsh, R-Walla Walla and Larry Haler, R-Richland also attended the service, among others. Cowboy singer Wylie Gustafson of Eastern Washington sang for the service, and the Washington Army National Guard with the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7952 provided military honors. A 1963 graduate of Connell High School, Hailey attended Washington State University, was drafted into the Army in 1967 and married Pat in late 1969. They have two children, B.J. and Suzie. He ran the family ranch at Mesa, and was elected 9th district representative to the state Legislature in 2006 and was re-elected in November. Hailey also found time for community service. He was president of the Washington Cattlemen's Association and belonged to the Franklin County Cattlemen's Association, the Washington Farm Bureau and the Washington Wheat Growers Association. He also was on the Franklin County Planning Commission and the Franklin County Fire District No. 1 Board of Commissioners.
Burial information: Bess Hampton Memorial Gardens, Othello, WA
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