William (Bill) Warner Hays, 82

William (Bill) Warner Hays passed away June 19 due to respiratory complications.

A celebration of his life will be held at 11 a.m. on July 18 in Mt. Hall Elementary Gymnasium.

A luncheon will follow the celebration.

He was born in Bismarck, N.D., to George and Lucy Warner Hays on April 26, 1933.

At a young age he lost his mother and his father remarried Anita Larson Hays who raised him and his three sisters. After the war, the family moved west to Rupert, Idaho, where he graduated from high school. He was an all-state basketball player and garnered a college scholarship to Idaho State University. At Idaho State he was the point guard for his team who played in the NCAA “Sweet 16.”

He met Mary Boyd of Twin Falls, Idaho, and they married in October of his senior year at ISU. Following graduation, he began his teaching and coaching career with his father in Salmon,Idaho. The following year he moved to Twin Falls, Idaho, and worked as a teacher and coach.

In 1957, he started a 17-year stint as a teacher and coach in St. John, Wash. During this time, he coached football, basketball, and track. His teams brought home numerous trophies including four state basketball championships and four consecutive undefeated football seasons.

In 1974, Bill and Mary took teaching positions in Newport, Wash., which was closer to their family farm.

He continued to coach and lead his teams to success in football, boys and girls basketball and track.

He was recognized and inducted into the three coaching Hall of Fames for Washington state and has a box at the Spokane Veterans Arena.

In 1989, he retired to his ranch north of Bonners Ferry, Idaho, where he raised black Angus cattle and farmed.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Mary; his three children: Leslie (John) Akins, George Hays, Paula (Ken) West; grandchildren Hailey (James) Padilla, Jenna (Greg) Caster, Chandler and Colby West; and great-grandson Cole Caster; his three sisters, Beverly Port, Ginger (Dale) Hobbs, and Anita Stenersen.

He was preceded in death by his parents. Donations can be made to JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) or for a charity of your choice.