Harold J. "Hal" Woosley

BELLEVUE, Wash. - Hal Woosley of Bellevue passed away peacefully on July 11, 2002.

Born on July 29, 1922, in Worden, Mont., to James S. and Mary McMullin Woosley, pioneer farmers and cattle ranchers, Hal was raised on the ranch and farm near Red Lodge, Mont. Hal att-ended a one-room school and then went on to graduate high school in Buffalo, Wyo. He attended Hastings (Neb.) College, studying engineering, math and aviation.

He then became a bomber pilot in the B-24 Liberator and B-29 Superfortress during WWII. His passion for flying continued throughout his life and he was an active pilot for 52 years.

He was a successful sheep and cattle rancher, partnering with his father Jim Woosley in the W-Diamond Ranch in Ten Sleep, Wyo. He incorporated aviation in all aspects of his life including the management of cattle drives, hauling ranch and veterinary supplies, uranium exploration and elk herd counting for the Fish and Wildlife Department. For many years Hal was involved in the Stockgrowers and Woolgrowers associations as well as conducting cooperative research with the University of Wyoming in veterinary science, range management and agricultural economics, the results of which are still being referred to today by the U.S. Forest Service and Department of Interior.

Hal and his family moved to Bellevue in 1967 where he began developing commercial real estate. Hal founded Hal Woosley Properties, Inc., a commercial property investment and management brokerage, where his son T.J. is managing partner. Since 1967 Hal has been involved in many civic and professional commercial real estate organizations.

He has been active for 35 years with the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce serving as vice president and director, chairing a myriad of committees addressing education, land use, taxation, transportation and governmental affairs as well as Rotary, St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Seattle Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, OX5, Kalif Shrine Temple. He is a former board member of First Mutual Bank and Overlake Hospital Foundation.

Hal is survived by his loving wife of 43 years, Marian; and his sons, T.J. (Carole; grandsons, Carter and James) of Bellevue, Todd of Bellevue, Ty (Helene) of Portland, Ore., and David of Seattle.

A kind and gentle man, Hal Woosley has left us for a better place and in the process has left our world a bit kinder and gentler, just by being who he was. Hal was much loved and respected by his family and friends. The most important things to him were his country, his community, his church and, especially, his family. He will be greatly missed.

The memorial service celebrating Hal's life was held Monday, July 15, at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Medina, Wash. Remembrances to either the Overlake Hospital Foundation, 1035 116th Avenue NE, Bellevue, WA 98004 or St. Thomas Church, Medina, WA 98039 in Hal Woosley's name.