Stanley Alexander Ames, 91, passed away peacefully in his sleep in Lacey, Washington, on Dec. 7, 2021. He was born to Alexander and Pauline Ames in Oakville, Washington, on May 16, 1930. Stan grew up in Oakville. As a young boy, he loved to ride horses on the family farm with his best friends Jim Frost and Fred Moe. He grew strawberries, picked wild blackberries and peeled cascara bark to sell in town to help his parents on the farm. He loved to hike and hunt with his father in the forest nearby. He bought his first car, a Model A, when he was 16 years old. He got a kick out of telling the story of how he and a friend drove that car in the middle of winter in the snow all the way to Montana and back. He graduated from Oakville High School and spent three years in the Army National Guard and two years in the United States Marine Corp. Stan was very proud of his military service. He was a lifelong member of the American Legion. Stan met his future wife Dolores at a dance at Swede Hall in Rochester, Washington. He always said it was love at first sight. They were married on May 11, 1957, and settled on a small farm outside of Tenino, Washington. He enjoyed raising cattle for many years on that farm. Over the years they took many trips to their favorite place, Mount Rainier. Oftentimes, vacations were spent driving down the coast into California to visit with family. Stan worked as a machine operator at Simpson Plywood for many years and then at Georgia Pacific Corp for 20 years until he retired in 1995. Stan is survived by his daughter Diane Elwin and husband John; son Robert Ames and son Douglas Ames and wife Cherie. He is also survived by six grandchildren, Tracee and Tami Elwin, Nick Ames, Torry Iyall and Alex and Susie Ames. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Dolores; a granddaughter June Ames; and by his siblings, a brother Ed and two sisters, Marg and Thelma. He was also preceded in death by his companion of 10 years, Nita Onn. Our family wishes to express our heartfelt thanks to Brandon, Shad and Joanna at A Big Heart Adult Family Home. You are amazing. There will be a private graveside gathering for immediate family and a celebration of life at a future date. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Alzheimer’s and Dementia Association at www.alz.org.
