Raelee Kaye Hicks

"Be kind to one another… you never know when you are entertaining ANGELS unaware."

Those are the words that Raelee tried to live by.

Raelee passed away on April 5, 2008, in her home of natural causes. Raelee was born Jan. 31, 1969, hip to an untold multitude of people. She would say, "Shed not a tear but rejoice and have fun." In 2001, she traveled with friends to Mardi Gras and was looking forward to going again. She loved taking trips to the coast with her best friend, her mother. She loved walking hand and hand along the beach with her mother, feeling her feet in the sand and the water tickling her toes. Raelee loved camping, and the great outdoors, gardening, music, movies and friends. She collected pigs, Wizard of Oz, Phantom of the Opera and good-looking men. Raelee is survived by her beloved best friend and mother, Rose and dad, John Sanders of Zillah, Wash.: by her three canine kids, Yukon, Buddy and Bernie; also by her grandmother, Barbara Blankenship of Sunnyside, Wash.; grandfather, Loman Blankenship and wife, Marlene of Ellensburg, Wash.; uncle and aunt, Dorman and Cathy Blankenship of Prosser, Wash.; cousins, Eric Blankenship (Janille) of Prosser, Wash.; Adam and Yasmeen Blankenship and their children, Amaya and Eilijah Blankenship of California.; Josh and Sonshine Aman and children Malakai, Silas, Zion of Prosser, Wash.; her father, Don and wife, Cindy Hicks of Spokane; sister, Angie Hicks (Jason) of Seattle, (with whom she recently rekindled their relationship); brother, Dustin Hicks (Joclyn) and children of Spokane; grandmother, Norma and her husband Jerry Crothers, of Moses Lake; cousins, Inetta, Rod, Spencer and children, Debbie and children, Jr and Nicky and cousin Robbie and his dad, Gary Jackson; special friend, Cary Johnson and daughter Tatanya; a multitude of friends, co-workers, and strangers who she touched with her sweet caring spirit. She was preceded in death by Mort and Pauline McClure, Philip McClure, Naomi and Bob Daughtery, Vesta and Pete Blankenship, Bob Hicks, Diane Jackson and Bertha Hicks.

Viewing will be Thursday, April 10 and Friday, April 11 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Riplinger Funeral Home 4305 N. Division Spokane. A "Celebration of Life" will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 12 at Riplinger Funeral Home. Graveside service and interment will take place following the service at the Valley Hills Cemetery in Zillah, Wash., at approximately 3 p.m.

"Remember me with smiles and laughter as I will remember you all, if you remember me with tears, don't remember me at all."