Obituary

William James Hastings

October 13, 1941–July 28, 2022

William James Hastings 'Bill,' born October 13, 1941, to Arthur and Florress (Ogden) Hastings.

Bill, the first-born son to Art and Florress, grew up at Central Ferry, Wash., on the family orchard and farm. Peaches and watermelon were two of the most famous crops from there which he spoke so fondly of. To hand Bill a peach to eat that wasn't perfect in every way was almost a crime and his love for a good watermelon was only measured by the amount of salt he could put on it.

He attended grade school at the Central Ferry school house. After he was in the higher grades, he rode the bus to Pomeroy to attend school in town. He grew up with some great friends in the area, once he had his driver's license and could drive to town that's when the stories really began.

Bill liked to drive fast and he was good at hiding from the police who would try to catch him in the act. It's been told he may have hidden his car a few times in a local barn out in that area. Bill worked for a few of the local ranchers and farmers when he was young and was privileged to get to go to California on an adventure with one.

He started his farming career with a local family who had him live in their bunk house; they had remained close friends for a lifetime. When the family orchard was forced to be sold in order to prepare for the dams, in the early '60s. The Hastings family purchased a small ranch a few miles from Starbuck Wash., where he moved and worked. The ranch was the perfect place, with the Tucannon River running through the property, there was plenty of water for the crops, cattle, chickens, sheep and hogs. He ranched and farmed the land there until the late '70s when it was sold.

He moved to Dayton and he worked at a grain terminal at Central Ferry for a few years. He then moved to the upper Tucannon and tried his hand at his own trucking business and from there moved to Pomeroy. While trucking, his CB handle was Wild Bill, an appropriate handle for a man like Bill.

From trucking he worked for a few different companies around the state and finally ended up in Oakesdale, Wash., working for a rancher-farmer. Yes, there is a pattern, Bill loved ranching and farming: it's what he knew. His farming career made a complete 360 as his last farming adventure was where he started his first, just feet away from that bunk house.

Bill had a passion for gold mining, it was in his blood. He had generations of ancestors who found the beloved gold nuggets. Whether he was panning or running his sluice box ,that is when he was really having fun. In later years he watched every Bigfoot documentary, old-time western and, of course, gold rush. These were always the topic of conversation along with the latest political mess. If you knew Bill, you knew how much he loved to talk. He'd visit with anyone, anywhere, anytime.

On July 28, 2022, Bill left his life on earth to go find that big gold nugget, fish in the clearest river and breathe the freshest air. He is with all of his family and friends who got there first, telling stories of the past and watching over our futures. He can rest easy knowing that he can watch over his herd each and every day. He will be missed dearly by all of his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, numerous family and friends. If you knew Bill, you knew just how much he loved and worried about his children and their families. He is now our guardian angel, our protector.

There will be two graveside services for Bill: September 5 at 11 p.m. and October 1, 2022 at 12 p.m. at the Pomeroy City Cemetery. If you are unable to attend one try to make it to the other.

Bill's family asks that instead of flowers and such that donations be made in his name to the Eastern Washington Agricultural Museum P.O. Box 326, Pomeroy, Washington 99347.