Our beloved husband, father and grandfather died November 15th, 2006 at Hospice in Kennewick. Gene was best friend and champion to all of his family and friends, he would always go that extra mile to make things right. Gene was born in Spokane, Washington on December 2, 1929 to Gene and Elizabeth Hays and lived there until 1968. He graduated from Rogers High School in the January class of 1948. Soon after graduation, Gene and his high school sweetheart Joan Million were married, they had a son Delbert. Sadly Joan and infant son were killed in a traffic accident in 1950. Gene and Marjorie Christensen were married in February of 1952 and enjoyed fifty four years of marriage. Gene is survived by his wife Marge, sons; Ken and his wife Nancy, Rick and his wife LaVerne, daughter Lori Wilkerson and her husband Larry. He is also survived by his grandchildren Erik Wilkerson and wife Brenda, Brian Hays and wife Heather, Beth Wilkerson, Julie Hays, Hollie Napora and husband Cameron, Jordon Hays and wife Abby. Great grandchildren; Marian Napora, Cody Wilkerson, Olivia Napora and Caanan Hays. Brother, Gayle Hays and his wife Jeanne and family. Gene enjoyed taking the family on hunting, camping and fishing trips he enjoyed snowmobiling, boating, races hydroplanes and golf and in later years the beauty and quiet of the cabin in the Blue Mountains. Gene had a passion for the car business working at and managing Stoddard Wendle and Major Ford dealerships in Spokane. Later Gene purchased and opened Tri city Dodge in 1968 and the Toyota franchise in 1970. He later owned and operated Desert Buick, GMC dealership with sons Ken and Rick. Gene enjoyed going to the ?store? and visiting with old customers and heckling the employees almost every day or going to coffee and visiting with many friends in business and law enforcement. Gene kept things lively wherever he was and will be missed. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to meals on wheels, Kennewick, Second Harvest Food Bank or the Tri-city Chaplaincy Hospice at 2108 Entiat ave. in Kennewick. A celebration of Gene?s life will be held at Mueller?s Tri-Cities Funeral Home on Tuesday, November 21, 2006 starting at 3:00 p.m.