Carl Wayford Stallings February 17, 1926 ? October 6, 2006 Daddy was born on February 17, 1926 to Charles and Girlie Stallings in Cape Girardeau, MO. During those dust bowl years his parents were struggling to survive as subsistence farmers in the mid-west. Life was hard and his parents were among the legions of farmers who depended on prayers and backbreaking labor to put beans on the table. As the 4th of eight children, Daddy skipped childhood to toil in the cotton fields alongside his parents. Eventually they were forced to give up the fight, loaded their meager belongings into an old truck and headed for the promise land ? California. Rumor said that jobs were plentiful there for everyone willing to do an honest days work. After working their way across the country they learned, as thousands of desperate families also learned, the anticipated opportunities didn?t exist. The Stallings family finally settled in Oregon where the children grew up, married, and worked long hard hours to rise above their impoverished young lives. At age 17, Daddy married the girl of his dreams, Louisa Nelson, and together they built their first home. Daddy and Mama worked side by side, building houses for many years, each one better than the last. All the while, their love for each other remained strong and exciting, never faltering or diminishing - theirs was a great love story until the day Daddy died. Daddy worked in paper mills before retiring as a maintenance superintendent and consultant in 1982. His early employment included work with asbestos, which led to asbestosis, lung cancer, and, ultimately, his death. Until cancer overcame him, Daddy remained a creative and energetic person with an amazing talent for creating works of art. In addition to putting in full days landscaping and maintaining his beautiful yard, he enjoyed photography, computer graphics, building guitars, overhauling cars, auto body restoration, writing poetry, and, of course, remodeling his house. He was an accomplished woodworker/carpenter who filled his children?s houses with beautiful handmade furniture, as well as paintings, wrought iron, and whatever else interested him at the time. On holidays he often delivered his latest creations: wishing wells, lawn furniture, jewelry boxes, and priceless personalized gifts he designed and crafted. He could do it all and did it masterfully. Daddy loved playing the guitar and singing love songs that he wrote to Mama. Sometimes he composed nostalgic ballads they sang together while he played one of his instruments. Carl and Louisa raised their six children only to lose their sons, Chester Chet and Ricky, in separate accidents. Carl will be missed by Louisa and their daughters: Dianne Brownson Bill, Susan Dobson, Jeannie Collin Scott and Lisa Whitmore Ron. He also leaves 13 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, and 2 great great-grandchildren. He looked forward to an additional 2 great grandchildren and 1 great great-grandchild due this winter. He also leaves siblings Burlie, Ruby, and Eugene, and many extended family members who love him dearly. On October 6, he was welcomed home by his sons, son-in-law Dwight Dobson, two sisters, two brothers, and three granddaughters. A viewing has been scheduled for Tuesday, October 10, 2006 from 5-8 P.M. and the 11th from 10 A.M-1 P.M. at Mueller?s Greenlee Funeral Home located at 1608 W. Court in Pasco. A graveside service will be held on October 11, 2006 at 2:30 P.M. at Riverview Heights Cemetery located at the corner of 10th and Olympia in Kennewick. He was a good man, a man of integrity, and he loved us well. He will always be our hero.