William (Bill) Warner Hays

William (Bill) Warner Hays passed away June 19 due to respiratory complications. Ceremony of Celebration will be held July 18 in Mt. Hall Elementary Gymnasium at 11:00 AM. A luncheon will follow the celebration. He was born in Bismarck, North Dakota to George and Lucy Warner Hays on April 26, 1933. At a young age he lost his mother and his father remarried Anita Larson Hays who raised him and his 3 sisters. After the war, the family moved west to Rupert, Idaho where he graduated from high school. He was an all-state basketball player and garnered a college scholarship to Idaho State University. At Idaho State he was the point guard for his team who played in the NCAA "Sweet 16". He met Mary Boyd of Twin Falls, Idaho and they married in October of his Senior year at ISU. Following graduation, he began his teaching and coaching career with his father in Salmon,Idaho. The following year he moved to Twin Falls, Idaho also teaching and coaching. In 1957, he started a 17 year stint as a teacher and coach in St. John, Washington. During this time he coached Football, basketball, and track. His teams brought home numerous trophies including 4 State Basketball championships and 4 consecutive undefeated Football seasons. In 1974 Bill and Mary took teaching positions in Newport, Washington which was closer to their family farm. He continued to coach and lead his teams to success in football, boys and girls basketball and track. He was recognized and inducted into the 3 coaching Hall of Fames for Washington state and has a box at the Spokane Veterans Arena. In 1989 he retired to his ranch north of Bonners Ferry, Idaho where he raised black angus cattle and farmed. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Mary and his 3 children Leslie (John) Akins, George Hays, Paula (Ken) West. Grandchildren Hailey (James) Padilla, Jenna (Greg) Caster, Chandler and Colby West, and Great-grandson Cole Caster. His 3 sisters, Beverly Port, Ginger (Dale) Hobbs, and Anita Stenersen. he was preceded in death by his parents. Donations can be made to JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) or for a charity of your choice.