Archie Dale Staley

Archie Dale Staley, the oldest of three children, was born on Oct. 10, 1920, in Washtucna, to Archie D. Staley, Sr. and Gertrude Benigna Suckow Staley. He graduated from Washtucna High School in 1938 and attended Whitman College in Walla Walla for three years before enlisting in the US Army Air Corps.

In 1943, Lt. Staley was stationed in Lucera, Italy with the 15th AF/ 301st Bomb Group/32nd squadron where he flew 51 missions as a B-17 pilot. On his sixth mission, Archie’s plane and one other were forced to find their way home by flying low through Yugoslavia’s mountains to evade four enemy fighters on the their tails. For saving 20 men and two aircraft, Lt. Staley was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Archie never lost a crew member while he was a pilot. He felt honored his squadron was escorted on missions by the United States first all-black fighter group, the Tuskegee Airmen.

In Florida, on Palm Sunday, in 1944, he married his childhood sweetheart, Mary Alene Gillis. He knew she was the one for him from the first day that she walked into his school as a freshman. The two were married for more than 64 years and together they raised three girls who grew into strong, independent women.

After completing his military obligation, the young couple came home to Washtucna to farm with Alene’s father, Ralph Gillis. In the coming years, they also raised thoroughbreds and Tennessee walking horses and were active with racing, showing and selling them for years.

Along with farming, Archie also participated in his community. He was a fire commissioner for 33 years, on the board of the Educational Service District 174, and he served as an EMT for six years to help ensure that Washtucna could retain its ambulance service. Archie was a member of the American Legion for many years. He helped start the Washington Wheat Growers Association and in 1936, he joined the Grange and held many offices at the local and state level.

As an elected member of the State Grange, he became chairman of the Washington State Council of Co-ops committee for 15 years. His proudest achievement as chairman was helping to broker an agreement between the Washington Apple Growers co-op and their counterpart in Chile.

Working out this first of its kind deal took two years and once it was completed, consumers in Chile and Washington began to enjoy year around fresh apples. At no cost to the Washington apple growers, except their normal co-op fees, they earned more than a $20 million increase in yearly profits.

With the co-op deal completed, Archie retired from public service and farming in 1985. He built a home north of Fairchild AFB where he put all his energy into being a wonderful husband and neighbor.

In 2008, he joined with Jerry and Karen Allen in purchasing the Electric Hotel (now a state and national historical building) in Harrington. They are now in the process of restoring this magnificent building.

At 4:45 a.m. on Sept. 4, Archie died peacefully at home surrounded by people he loved.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Alene, his brother, Ernie, and sister, Anna.

He is survived by his daughters Marilyn Staley of Medical Lake, Leslie Staley Neu (Ken) of Valley View, Texas, and Vicky Staley Koch (Mike) of Kigali, Rwanda, Africa, five grandchildren, and six great grandchildren.

He truly never met a stranger and his passing leaves an empty space in many hearts.

On Saturday, Sept. 24, at 1 p.m., there will be a graveside service in Washtucna where he will be laid to rest next to his beloved wife.

Sunday, Sept. 25, there will be an open house celebration of his life at his home from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The public is welcome to both events.

For more information, call Marilyn at 509-244-3395.