THOMAS LEWIS STACY

Thomas "Tom" Stacy passed away February 24, 2009, at age 71 after a courageous battle with cancer. Known as "the iron man" that was "tough as nails", Tom was born on February 15, 1938, in Inola, Oklahoma, where his father owned a service station. In 1945, the family moved to Claremore, Oklahoma, where he attended elementary through high school working with his dad building and remodeling houses. He joined the Air Force in 1956 and was stationed in Moses Lake, Washington, where he met the love of his life and soul mate, Gertie. They were married in July of 1959, in Walla Walla, Washington, and after being discharged from the Air Force in 1960, returned to Claremore, Oklahoma, to work with his father building houses again. The family returned to Walla Walla in 1962 and moved to Kennewick Finley, Washington, in 1968. He soon purchased Evergreen Lawn and Tree Care and worked daylight to dark taking care of the business and small family farm. Because of his daughter's passion for horses, he helped organize and create The Finley Saddle Club where he met many life-long friends. He found time every summer to go from rodeo to rodeo so she could accomplish her dreams. He worked all year long looking forward to the two or three weeks he would spend in the Blue Mountains with his hunting partner and friend, Tom Bock. There were many adventures and stories in the 35 years they spent teaching their sons about the outdoors and life. He worked and ran his company, Evergreen Lawn & Tree Care until he semi-retired in 2002 when he turned the family business over to his son Larry Stacy and son-in-law Nic Beeler. He then began spending his summers in Idaho on Lake Pend Oreille boating and fishing. He caught many rainbow and lake trout and enjoyed them with a good steak on the 'barbie' while watching the beautiful sunsets with Gertie. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Gertrude Stacy; sister, Thelma Noble of Oklahoma; son, Larry Paula Stacy of Kennewick; daughter, Dianna Beeler of Kennewick; grandchildren, Nichole Kevin Allen, Josh Heidi Stacy, and Travis and Wyatt Beeler; step-grandchildren, Brett Christine Milam, Jeremy Sarah Kennedy, Adam Knutson and Justin Kayla Knutson; great grandchildren, Gavin and Kason Allen; numerous nieces and nephews and many special friends. He is preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and a sister. Public viewing will be Saturday, February 28, from 4:00-8:00 p.m. at Einan's Funeral Home and services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 1, at Sunset Memorial Gardens and the new Memories at Sunset Event Center, 915 Bypass Highway in Richland. The family wishes to extend a special thank you to Tom's two angels at the Cancer Center and to all the wonderful nurses, doctors and staff at the Hospice House and the Cancer Center who gave their love and care to him. Donations in his honor may be made to Hospice at The Chaplaincy or the Tri-Cities Cancer Center.