Vickie Lee Hayes, born October 2, 1960, in Yakima, Washington, passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by loved ones on August 14, 2026. She grew up in Eureka, California, where she attended high school. She later lived in the Tri-Cities before moving to Walla Walla for college, ultimately returning to the Tri-Cities and making it her home for the rest of her life.

Vickie had a lifelong passion for athletics and a fiercely competitive spirit. She played recreational and club volleyball and softball for many years, both in the community and through Narcotics Anonymous, and ultimately went on to play volleyball for Walla Walla College. She continued playing sports throughout her life and for as long as she physically could. She was also an incredible dancer. Among her friends in Narcotics Anonymous, she was known as “Dancing Vickie.” She could often be found at the front of the dance floor, next to the biggest and loudest speaker, dancing her heart out. It was there that Vickie truly felt free, letting her mind and body move with the music.

One of her proudest accomplishments was earning her bachelor’s degree in physical education from Walla Walla College. Vickie worked in physical therapy and at fitness centers before later building a career at the Hanford nuclear site, where she worked as a nuclear chemical operator.

She loved her children, grandchildren, family, and friends with her whole heart. She was a proud mother, sister and aunt, and friendships were especially important to her. Vickie was deeply loyal and devoted to the people she called friends.

Poker was one of Vickie’s great passions, and she was an exceptional player. She shared her love of the game with her son, Jacob, who she taught to play, and they enjoyed playing in poker tournaments together. She loved spending time with her dog, Bandit, and taking him to the dog park. She also loved dancing to classic rock and ’90s hip-hop, bingo, the card game Dirty Dog, water aerobics, attending Narcotics Anonymous meetings, spending time with those in recovery, and going to Summer Sizzlers. She loved angels, butterflies, crystals, spirituality, and anything purple. Recently, she enjoyed a cruise to Alaska with new friends she had made in her retirement community.

Her faith and spirituality were an important part of her life. She shared a special connection to Divine Fellowship with her daughter, Saundra, a church that had been meaningful to them for many years. It was a place that continually helped guide Vickie home to herself, to her spirituality, and to her faith.

Her life was also a story of perseverance and recovery. She lived with the disease of addiction, and Narcotics Anonymous helped save her life more than once. At one point, Vickie had nearly 20 years of sobriety. Through NA, she found recovery, fellowship, friendship, and a path back to herself.

During the last five years of her life, Vickie got clean, persevered through numerous surgeries and physical challenges, and was finally beginning to feel stronger, return to the activities she loved, spend more time with the people who mattered to her, and enjoy life again.

Then pancreatic cancer came unexpectedly and moved devastatingly fast. In just a little over two months, her family had to say goodbye. After everything Vickie had overcome, those final years gave the people who loved her something immeasurably precious: more time with her and the opportunity to have her fully present in their lives again.

Vickie is survived by her daughter, Saundra Best; her son, Jacob Hamilton and his wife, Jennifer Hamilton; her grandchildren, Alexa Best Cach and husband Gabe Cach, Liam Hamilton, Cylee Wood, Kalie Childers, and Maddie Childers; and her soon-to-be great-grandson, Calloway Cach. She is also survived by her loving sister, Connie Lippo; her brother, George Hayes; and her beloved nieces and nephews, Daryl Skvarla, Corrin Skvarla, Joey Lippo, and Skyylynn Lippo, along with great-nieces and great-nephews, extended family, and cherished friends.

Vickie will be remembered as a loving mother and grandmother, a devoted sister and aunt, a loyal friend, a fierce competitor in sports and at the poker table, a beautiful dancer, and a woman who kept finding her way back.

She loved angels throughout her life. Now, she is ours.

Vickie and her family extend their heartfelt gratitude to Reliable Healthcare for the care they provided during the final chapter of her life. The love and compassion they showed Vickie will always be remembered, and our family will forever be grateful.

A Celebration of Life honoring Vickie will be held Friday, September 18, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at the Event Center at Einan’s Sunset Funeral Home, 915 Bypass Highway, Richland, Washington 99352. A reception will follow, with graveside inurnment afterward.