Regina “Reggie” Consani

April 6, 1926 – January 3, 2021

Reggie Consani, 94, of Walla Walla, passed away on January 3, 2021, losing her fight with COVID-19.

Reggie was born on April 6, 1926 to Otto and Myrtle Kienle in Seattle Washington, her own birth a result of a pandemic in which her father’s first wife died of influenza. After graduating from Roosevelt High School, she attended the Burnley School of Art (now the Art Institute of Seattle), after which she started her career as a commercial artist.

When the opportunity came up to move with some girlfriends to Hawaii for six months, she jumped at the chance. Listening to her tell stories of that time, even 70 years later, her family all knew it was a highlight of her life. Of course, a bigger highlight came weeks after she returned home and met her future husband (Al Consani) on a blind date. Two weeks later they were engaged, the beginning of 68 years together, and had 3 children: Robin, Jeff and Joan.

Reggie and Al always had ways of having fun as a family, including the cabin on Whidbey Island, skiing every weekend, and camping – especially at Lake Chelan.

After retiring, Reggie and Al moved from Edmonds to the small town of Sequim, Washington where they both flourished. Reggie was able to take up art again, this time for herself, instead of advertisements. She concentrated on the medium of watercolor and enjoyed painting scenes of the local area, especially of lighthouses or kids having fun on the beaches. Reggie was a founding member of the Blue Whole Gallery and was dedicated to making it successful. Her alliance with the gallery and her large circle of friends were the center of her life. At home, her garden never let a weed grow for very long, and there were always canned pears in the pantry and a pie in the freezer.

Reggie moved to Walla Walla in 2013 to be near her two daughters.

Reggie was predeceased by her husband Al Consani and all family members of her generation. She is survived by her children: Robin (Michael), Jeff (Eileen), Joan, and several beloved grand dogs.

No service will be held at this time, but a gathering may be arranged when people can meet together again. Remembrances can be made to the Blue Whole Gallery in Sequim or by buying artwork from a local artist. Also, Reggie would request that everyone be kind and please wear a mask – you don’t know who you will save.

Lester William “Bill” Fairley

April 21, 1929 – January 3, 2021

Lester William (Bill) Fairley was born on April 21, 1929, in El Paso Texas to Ina Faye (Barbee) and Leon Johnston Fairley. Bill died at home in Sacramento, Calif., on Jan. 3, 2021, at the age of 91 years.

Bill grew up in El Paso, graduating from Austin High School. He majored in violin and voice at Texas Western College (now University of Texas at El Paso). He played with the El Paso Symphony Orchestra and was principal violinist.

He earned a master’s degree in music education from the Columbia Teachers College in New York City, NY, in 1952, and studied voice with instructors from The Juilliard School.

Bill married Beverly Hope Tupper on Jan. 5, 1952, in El Paso. Children from this marriage were Kathryn Hope (deceased), Karen Tucker of Las Cruces, NM, and Patsene (Tucker, Twiss) Dashiell of Sequim. The marriage ended in amicable dissolution in November 1959.

Bill served in the U.S. Army from August 1952 to April 1954. A veteran of the Korean War, he achieved the rank of sergeant and was awarded the Silver Star Medal for his gallantry in action.

Bill led a full and active life. He played viola and violin in symphony orchestras and sang in the San Francisco Opera Company. For a brief time, he pursued a lifelong ambition, traveling to Germany to audition for the Hamburg Opera Company. He taught instrumental music in public schools, and later served as a school counselor and principal in South Lake Tahoe, Calif. He lent his talented tenor voice to numerous community productions and church choirs.

A man with a strong faith in God, Bill read his Bible and attended church regularly. He was intensely involved with his close-knit family, playing board games, traveling, camping, working crossword puzzles, talking, laughing, and eating ice cream.

An avid athlete, Bill played basketball and softball, but his favorite sport became tennis, which he played from high school until the age of 91 years.

Bill is survived by his wife of 59 years, Janet Lee (Watkins) Fairley, as well as children from their marriage: Leon Fairley of Sacramento, Calif.; Scott Fairley (Stacey) of Carmichael, Calif.; Kenin Fairley (Susan) of South Lake Tahoe, Calif.; Cecilia Fairley of San Francisco, Calif., and Lester Fairley (Terri) of Rancho Cordova, Calif.

Bill was blessed with grandchildren Chelsea Twiss and Hallie Twiss (Patsene), Samantha Fairley and Jeffrey Fairley (Kenin), and Gavin Fairley (Lester), as well as great-granddaughter Brooklyn AnnMarie Fairley (Jeffrey).

He was preceded in death by his parents, his infant daughter Kathryn Hope and adopted son Jason.

Memorial donations can be made to the Fremont Presbyterian Church Choir in Sacramento, Calif., or to the charity of your choice.

Jack Benjamin Hitchcock

April 21, 1929 – January 3, 2021

Jack Hitchcock was born at home in Christina, MT, on April 21, 1929, to Esther Sheldon Hitchcock and Ralph Henry Hitchcock, and died at home on January 3, 2021, after contracting COVID. Jack was 91. He was a gentle man and a gentleman, and he touched the lives of so many during nearly a century on earth. He would want you to wear your mask, be safe, and get vaccinated.

Jack’s early life was shaped by the Great Depression, contributing to his lasting service as a caregiver and an incredibly hard worker. He remembered his family being on “relief” (welfare) when he was six; his first paid job was sweeping his one-room country school in second grade for 15 cents a week.

His parents, who had only completed 8th grade, pushed all their kids to graduate college. Following military service, Jack earned a Bachelor’s degree in education at Northern Montana College and completed coursework towards a Master’s in Education and a practicum in counseling later at the University of Washington, as well as serving in the Air Force.

As a young teacher in the Renton School District, he sorted and delivered mail during the summers to make ends meet. Jack was also an actual cowboy, who herded cattle on the Missouri breaks in his mid-twenties. A true adventurer and athlete, he later rode in rodeos, remembering getting bucked off bare-backed broncs.

In addition to bronc riding, he boxed with his brother, played basketball, semi-pro baseball (for the Brooklyn Dodgers) and football, and even operated a pool hall. (He could still play a mean game of billiards in his 80s). He and his daughter completed a 10k together and hiked Mt. Juneau in1987. He also liked to camp and spent many summers with his kids on a small piece of undeveloped property on Lummi Island.

Jack was a leader in his community wherever he was, even as a cheerleader in high school. Fortunately, in 1956, he made a good impression on a fellow student at Northern Montana College, who, when she met him, was enthralled with his role as President of the Future Teachers of America campus chapter. After 11 months of dating, Jack and Patricia Ann Milne were married in Malta, MT , launching a 63-year adventure as partners and best friends.

Jack touched the lives of many, many middle school students in the Shoreline School District as an English teacher and then school counselor over 30 years. The adolescent age when life is so hard was an age that he embraced. He started Natural Helpers, a peer mentoring program that became a model for the state, knowing that kids needed peers who were like them to support them – whatever their background, interests, or identities.

He was vice president of the Shoreline Education Association when a mom in tennis shoes, Patty Murray, felt that the District could be better run. He doorbelled and campaigned for the now-Senator as one of her first volunteers. He was active in the AZ Democratic Party, served as a precinct committeeman in both WA and AZ and was a long-time poll worker.

Jack lived in the Wedgwood neighborhood of Seattle for 30 years, serving as President of the Wedgwood Community Council, and attending his kids’ and grandkids’ activities as well as supporting Pat in her Musical Kindergarten business. After retirement, he and Pat lived in Sequim for 7 years. He stayed active, elected President of the Clallam County Retired Teachers Association where he helped to lobby the state of Washington to get a cost-of-living adjustment– a huge boost for fixed income retired educators. They became snowbirds in Arizona in 1999, later settling there permanently.

In retirement he had plenty of fun, but also stayed busy as a volunteer, with Head Start, as an ESL tutor, and on the Recreation and Advisory Board in Surprise, AZ and on the Board of the Surprise Historical Society.

Jack was a devoted husband to Pat, through many trials, home exchanges around the world, enjoyment of the Southwest, caring for her through the stages of Parkinson’s, even making her mac-n-cheese the day before he died. Jack’s life was also shaped by his children, including profound losses of two sons, aged 5 and 34.

Jack found meaning in supporting others. He was positive, jovial, and extroverted, kind to everyone, smiling, and open minded. Most of all, he enjoyed people. He loved his wife, daughter, granddaughters, and son-in-law dearly.

Jack is survived by his wife, Patricia Milne Hitchcock of Peoria, AZ, and daughter Laura Hitchcock (Jan Glick) (Seattle, WA), granddaughters Olivia Glick (Washington, DC) and Talia Glick (Seattle, WA). Other survivors include cousin Billie Ann Hitchcock Higgins (Federal Way, WA), brothers Ray (Seattle) and Dennis (Char Houdenchild) (Prescott, AZ, and Bandon, OR), sister Jeannette George (Ajijic, Mexico), sister Verna (Havre, MT), brother-in-law Bob Milne (Billings, MT), numerous nieces and nephews, spouses, and their children, as well as Kayla Loughlin (Newcastle, WA), and Margaret Hitchcock (Tulsa, OK). He was preceded in death by sons Brian Jon Hitchcock and Dean Robert Hitchcock, brothers Glen, Phillip, and Gene Hitchcock, and his parents.

Donations can be made to the Friends of Surprise Library in Surprise, AZ, to K.I.N.D. (unicefusa.org/kind-desks), or to Veterans of Foreign Wars.

For additional details, see https://www.regencymortuary.com/obituary/Jack-Hitchcock