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Hazel Faye Gilman, 81

Hazel Faye Gilman (née Leighty), longtime resident of Wapato, Wash., passed from this life peacefully at Cottage in the Meadow hospice care on July 4, 2018, in Yakima, Wash., at the age of 81.

Hazel is survived by her husband of 61 years, Wallace Gilman of Yakima Wash.; daughter, Kristine Gilman of Kennewick, Wash.; sons Jeffery (Kathleen) Gilman of Santa Rosa, Calif., and Scott Gilman of Spokane, Wash.; grandchildren Joshua Gilman of Spokane, Hannah (Jared) Harney of Anderson, Calif., Rebekah Gilman of Santa Fe, N.M., Josiah (Sara) Gilman of Atascadero, Calif., and four great-grandchildren. She is also survived by siblings Lois (Jack) Schmidt of Hayden, Idaho, Lela Stephenson of East Lansing, Mich., Jean Kelly of Bothell, Wash., Kenneth Robert (Marian) Leighty of Conroe, Texas, and Betty (Steve) Walker of Post Falls, Idaho; as well as dozens of nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by sister Bonnie Taie.

Hazel was born on July 1, 1937, in Syracuse, Kan., to Kenneth and Stella Leighty. She graduated from Central Washington University with a degree in education. She married Wallace Gilman, her college sweetheart, in 1957. Hazel taught grade school and middle school students for more that 30 years in Idaho and Washington (including 23 years at Wapato Jr. High/Middle School), impacting the lives of hundreds of students in her career. She was a loving and dedicated wife, mother and grandmother and was cherished by all her family and friends.

Hazel excelled in many areas, including gardening, canning and preserving, cooking and crafts. She was a dedicated member and leader in the Alpha Delta Kappa Sorority for more than 40 years. Hazel was a lifelong learner, traveling extensively with Wally, and taking college classes even into retirement. For her the joy was as much in the journey as in the destination. And what a journey it was. She battled and overcame life-threatening illnesses such as polio, colon cancer and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and lived a life dedicated to others.

A celebration of her life is scheduled for 4 p.m. on Tuesday, July 17, 2018, at Keith and Keith Funeral Home in Yakima with a reception to follow. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Hazel’s life. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Wellness House of Yakima, Ronald McDonald House or Cottage in the Meadow. The family would like to thank the kind staff at Virginia Mason Hospital and Cottage in the Meadow.

To share a memory of Hazel, please visit www.keithandkeith.com.