Norman Donald Hay

Norman D. Hay, beloved grandfather, husband, father, Navy veteran and author, passed away from complications of COPD, in Olympia, Wednesday, January 8, 2025, where he was a resident for 29 years. Norm was born November 30, 1932, San Francisco, CA to Donald and Martha (Stevens) Hay, where he and his childhood buddy Dick Bolling had many adventures. Norm was an avid sports fan (Go Niners) and attended the University of Oregon where he played both football and basketball, and probably studied. However, duty called, and Norm enlisted in the Navy and served in Korea as a medical corpsman.

After his time in Korea, Norm returned to, CA, where he worked for the Purple Heart Foundation for many years before moving with his family to Reno, NV where he worked at the sports book for Hilton and eventually met his wife, Judi Hawkins. Norm and Judi moved to Olympia, WA in 1996 to be closer to family. Norm quickly made many friends in the community where he loved to play tennis, golf and enjoy the activities of his granddaughters Caoilinn, Marin and Lindsey. Norm and Judi shared a wonderful life of tennis, travel, family and adventure.

As an author Norm wrote his first book, Tales of the Dolphin, a lighthearted tale about the adventures and misadventures of the patrons of a sports book from his life’s experiences working for the Hilton in Reno. In Olympia he wrote two other quirky books, The Gargoyle and The Horse Room along with two semi-biographical books, The Quiet Room and The Not So Quiet Room.

Norm was a loving husband, father, grandfather as well as a kind and generous person. Norm is survived by his wife Judi, his sons, Ted, Kevin and Brian Hay, his daughter Lisa St. John, his children by marriage, Tracy and Matthew Hawkins, and his grandchildren Ryan and Shea Hay, and his grandchildren by marriage, Caoilinn, Marin and Lindsey Farrell. Norm will be greatly missed and leaves our hearts full of the love and support he shared every day with us. If you would like to make a donation in Norm Hay's name, please give to the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW, https://vfw.org) or the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA, https://support.npca.org).