Connie Rae Hayes, 46, of Durkee, May 26, 2005, at her home.
Her graveside service will be at 9 a.m. PDT (10 a.m. MDT) Wednesday at the Cambridge Cemetery in Cambridge, Idaho.
There will be a celebration of life service at 2 p.m. PDT at the Durkee Grange Hall in Durkee.
Connie was born on Aug. 5, 1958, at Council, Idaho, to Don Howard and Lois Lawson DuPree. She was educated at Council, New Meadows and Kooskie, Idaho.
When she was 9, the family moved to Seattle, Wash., and then to Vancouver, Wash., where Connie remained for several years.
Connie had worked as a waitress, worked in nursing homes and was a bingo caller at the Moose Lodge, which she really enjoyed. At the age of 20, Connie had twin girls, Amie and Kassie. Four years later, she had a son Adam. She moved to Virginia Beach for a short time, returning to Cambridge, Idaho, to be near her family.
Connie met her husband, Gary, on a blind date, having dinner at the Yacht Club in McCall, Idaho. They immediately clicked and were married on May 22, 1997 at Baker City.
After their marriage, they traveled following Gary’s work in construction. They returned to Durkee in September 1998 where Connie worked at the Wagon Wheel cafe and as a postal clerk in Durkee.
Connie loved to play bingo and would look up a bingo place wherever they were. She liked to cook and thoroughly enjoyed a great bargain at garage sales.
She could out-fish her husband, winning quarters for the “first, most and biggest fish” from many family members. She, her husband and daughter, Kassie, attended the Calvary Baptist Church in Baker City.
Survivors include her husband, Gary Hayes of Durkee; her mother, Lois DuPree, and her father, Don Howard, both of Cambridge, Idaho; her children, Amie Kennick of Weiser, Idaho, and Kassie Pickett and Adam Hicks, both of Baker City; stepchildren, Taylor and Hannah Hayes of Imbler; brothers, Dave Howard, and his wife, Colleen, of Battle Ground, Wash., and Bill DuPree and his companion, Rachel, also of Battle Ground, Wash.; seven grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her grandparents; a brother, Norval Howard; and a sister, Donetta Howard.
Memorial contributions may be made to Northwest Professionals, Family Resource Center, through Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, Oregon 97814.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, June 3, 2005
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor