Stanley E. Storey

"You been farming long?"

Stanley "Junie" E. Storey, a lifelong local farmer, died Friday, April 22, 2016. He was 91.

Stan was born Feb. 13, 1925, on the family farm, to Ira Edgar Storey and Nola Caroline Coffin Storey. Each year on his birthday, he always joked he "was the best Valentine's Day present his mother ever received." He was one of eight children, with Norman Frank, Robert William, Marvin Glen, Stanford Edgar, Wilma Laura, Marjorie Eleanor and Edward Leo. The family farmed on Cottonwood Creek since 1898. The family retelling of stories about growing up on the farm, attending school at the Black School (the local one-room schoolhouse), and operating a farm from the era of horse-drawn combines to now, is legendary.

Stanley married Janet Offenheiser on Sept. 30, 1944. Janet was a registered nurse at St. Joseph Hospital; they met while he was a patient. Family and friends have often heard the story of how they met and their courtship, the details of which were recounted with much humor. The story won't be retold here, but surely the thought will make many smiles.

Stanley and Janet had four children, Randolph Rex, Micheal Steven, Walter (Spud) and Candice Jill. They raised their family at the "ranch." Stanley introduced the children to the wonders of farming and enjoying the outdoors. Whenever time was available, he would take Randy, Mike and Spud to the North Fork, where he loved to hunt and fish, where inevitably the "buck-buck-buck" challenge would be issued. Stanley was renowned for relating stories based "mostly in fact" and always laced with a joke or ending with a punchline. His humor was a characteristic that all family and friends cherished.

Stanley began participating in competitive trapshooting in 1971 with Randy and Spud, attending his first registered shoot in Orofino. He was a founding member of the Culdesac Gun Club. Shooting trap became a shared pastime for Stan, his children and grandchildren. During the early 1970s, it was common to see the "Storey Boys" at regional registered and turkey shoots. The Storey Boys were tough competitors in all events, but particularly in skin games or other events when money was on the line.

Stanley was an easily recognizable person, at home, at work and at play. He had a great smile, beautiful white hair, bright blue eyes, a ready quip and was almost always attired in bib overalls. Those who visited at the farm will easily picture him reclining on his couch, leaning on his elbow, dressed in bibs and eager for a chance to "bull...." or jokingly instructing his grandchildren to "get over here so I can thump your gourd."

Stanley loved holidays and family time. Family dinners were a tradition that created many memories for his children and grandchildren. Most Thanksgiving dinners began with him saying "Damn it, old man, pass the pie," a quote from a childhood experience. Christmas Eve dinners included macaroni and cheese and hot dogs as the primary entrees, and family dinners always ended with him joking the "meal was super - what there was of it."

Stanley is survived by his wife, Janet; son Spud (Kathy); daughter Jill; and brother Eddie of Virginia; six grandchildren, Jeni Bloom, Ira Storey (Corrie), Sara Sauve (Charlie), Bill Storey (Bree), Ali Storey (Brian Ferry) and Conner Storey; and eight great-grandchildren. Because of his capacity for friendship, he is also survived by many, many friends.

In lieu of a formal service, Stanley will be remembered at a family gathering at a later date. The family suggests that donations be made in his memory to the Shriners Hospital for Children, P.O. Box 2472, Spokane, WA 99210-2472; or St. Joseph Family Hospice, P.O. Box 719, Lewiston, ID 83501; or a charity of your choice.