Ralph ‘Art’ Hillestead

Art Hillestead, age 86, a long time resident of Sedro-Woolley, passed away on Tuesday, July 14, 2009 at 1:30AM from congestive heart failure with his loving wife hand in hand by his side at his granddaughter’s home. He was born on January 13, 1923 in Joyce, Washington to Ralph and Marie Eiler Hillestead.
As a child, he traveled with his parents around the Pacific Northwest as his father worked in the shingle mills. He attended Anacortes High School and later enlisted as a Merchant Seaman in WWII delivering airplanes and fuel to Australia from California.
In 1954, he was one of the original founders of Skagit Speedway in which he raced and was part owner. He raced several different classes such as stock, modified, and sprint. In 1975, Art was the track champion in the stock car division. He also owned and managed Art’s Auto Wrecking in Sedro-Woolley since 1945.
In 1954, he met his loving wife Lois McAdow of Sedro-Woolley, where they have been happily married for 55 years.
Art is survived by his wife, Lois Hillestead of Sedro-Woolley and his three children, Carol Dietz of Bellingham, Jerry Lee McAdow and his wife Angela and Pamela Robinson and her husband James all of Sedro-Woolley. He also leaves behind 12 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren. Art was preceded in death by his parents and a sister Corrine Hotakyk.
As most of you know, Art was the biggest story teller B.S.’er in Skagit County and if you didn’t know, he would tell you over and over again.
Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, July 18, 2009 at 2:00PM at Lemley Chapel, Sedro-Woolley with Mr. Doyle Guffie officiating. Interment will follow at the Sedro-Woolley Union Cemetery. Following the services, a gathering will be held at the Sedro-Woolley Community Center. Memorials are suggested to a charity of your choice.