Dennis Hillery Hector

Dennis Hillery Hector, 55, of Hermiston died March 14 at Kadlec Regional Hospital in Richland. Dennis was born November 15, 1957, in Spokane to Hillery and Charlene. Being in a military family, Dennis moved around the country quite a bit growing up. The family finally settled in Moses Lake and later moved to Ephrata when he was 10. Dennis graduated from Ephrata High School in 1976. After high school, Dennis moved to Hermiston and started working for the Union Pacific Railroad, where he worked up until his retirement.

Dennis enjoyed everything about his life. He grew up in a stock car racing family and had been racing since he was 16. Over the years, Dennis became well known at racetracks around the northwest as Wild Thing. After his third daughter Kember was born, Dennis decided it was time to hang up the helmet and spend time with the ones he loved the most, his girls. Over the years, Dennis taught his four daughters many lifelong lessons. He took them camping, hunting and fishing. He taught them everything he knew from construction to cooking and made sure each one of them knew how to change a tire. Dennis was a man of all trades; there was nothing he could not do, but most of all he was a family man. Never once would he put his own needs before those of his family or friends. He was always willing to lend a helping hand to anyone in need and touched the lives of everyone he met. He will forever be remembered as the amazing father, papa, brother, son and uncle that he was.

Dennis is survived by his four daughters Lindsay, Chelsea, Kember and Rikki; three grandchildren, Isaiah, Evelyn and Landry; his mother Charlene, stepfather Al, and stepmother Jodie; four siblings, Greg, Ellen, Bret and Bart, and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his father Hillery, his nephew Daniel and grandparents.

Memorial services will be held Friday, March 22 at 1:00 p.m. at Nicoles Funeral Home in Ephrata, Wash., with graveside services following at the Ephrata Cemetery. A reception will be held afterwards at the Eagles Lodge in Ephrata. There will also be a Celebration of Life held in the banquet room at the Pheasant Café and Lounge in Hermiston, Ore., on Saturday, March 23 at 11:00 a.m.