Our loving father, grandfather, and uncle, Cecil Edward Drotts, 100 years and 4 months passed away peacefully at his home on December 3rd with his son John and daughters Judy and Pearl, grandson Bob and son-in-law Brian at his side. The son of John Henry and Roberta Drotts was born in Logan, Kansas in 1909. He moved to Richland in 1944 and retired as Reactor Supplemental Crew Supervisor from Douglas United Nuclear at Hanford in 1972. He was a devoted member of Central United Protestant Church in Richland. Cecil is survived by son Cecil Allen Drotts of Tenino, daughter Judith Jane Williams of Richland, daughter Pearl Ann Adler of Clallam Bay, son John Vernon Drotts of Mount Vernon and granddaughters Lisa Marie Drotts, Jana Lu Williams, Cathryn Lin Amstone, Anna Maria Drotts, grandsons Robert Alan Casto, Anthony Todd Drotts, Michael John Drotts, twin great grandsons Grant and Henry Koehler, Charlie Amstone, Teddy Amstone and great granddaughters, Alice May Standefer, and Emilee Amstone. Sons-in-law Roger Williams and Brian Adler, daughter-in-law Camille Drotts, grandson-in-law Greg Amstone, granddaughter-in-law Kelly Casto, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his dear wife Janette Marilyn Vernon Drotts, daughter-in-law Rita Marie Drotts and grandson Steven Gregory Drotts.

Public viewing of his remains will be held at Einan's Memorial Chapel in Richland on Monday, December 7th, 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. Private graveside services to be at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Richland, Tuesday, December 8th at 11:00 a.m. Public memorial service at Central United Protestant Church in Richland on Tuesday December 8th at 2:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations would be graciously accepted in Cecil's name at: Central United Protestant Church, Richland; Tranquility Haven Legacy Homes Inc., Kennewick; or The Chaplaincy Hospice, Kennewick.

Our father grew up in rural Kansas during the trying times of the depression and dust bowl, which shaped his life, values and work ethic thereafter. Moved to strike out on his own at the age of 17, he spent the next 18 years making a living initially farming and trucking and ultimately ending up at the Remington Arms plant in Denver manufacturing bullets for the war. It was at Remington Arms where he saw the notice that the Dupont Company was looking for people to work at a war-related government-built plant that Dupont was going to operate in the Pasco, Washington area. Shortly after moving to Richland in 1944 to work at Hanford, Cecil married Janette. Together they raised four children.

Dad loved to hunt and fish and was good at it. He had many adventures seeking his prey. He and his hunting partners traveled to northern B.C to successfully bag moose, and countless deer and elk stood no chance against him during his annual fall hunting trips to the central Cascades. He caught trophy Chinook salmon on the Kenai River in Alaska, including catching sixty-pounders on consecutive days. And he was one of those guys who could catch fish when nobody else even got a bite.

When not hunting or fishing, Dad loved to build things. His projects were both large and small including digging a basement, literally by the shovel full, under his house. He built a recreational cabin in the Blue Mountains, many pieces of furniture, cedar chests, and a high chair for his grandchildren. And if he wasn't building something, he was fixing something. Dad could seemingly fix anything and loved the challenge - the more complex the better.

Dad's work ethic was relentless. He was a jack-of-all-trades and a master of many. He never let a day go by without trying to "earn a dollar." Even after retiring from "the area" he continued to bring home a paycheck - first at Penguin Electric, then Pischel's Herff Jones Yearbooks, and finally at Pacific Pride - working well into his eighties. And, still he didn't stop. He financed salmon fishing trips to the Oregon coast by recycling aluminum cans and bottles.

Dad devoted much time to helping others. He volunteered at the Central United Protestant Church Christ's Helping Hands using his talents for making things, doing facilities maintenance tasks, and helping parishioners in need. He also served over 30 years as an usher. Until he could no longer climb a ladder in his nineties, he volunteered with the Gleaners to supply produce to local food banks.

Cecil influenced many lives in his 100 years: children and grandchildren, nephews and nieces, friends, and co-workers. He always had a kind word and a story to tell. And he will be deeply missed.

Dad lived in and maintained his home of 60 years until his 100th birthday. He cooked his own meals and drove his car until age 99. The family would like to thank his many beloved friends, church and extended family who gave him much joy by their visits, and to those at Tranquility Haven who lovingly assisted him in the final four months of his life.