My Spokane Valley Roots: 

In the spring of 1968 our family moved from the north side of Spokane “clear out to the valley”.   I remember my great grandma wondering if we would be back for the holidays!  Across the street from Danelo’s cantaloupe fields, building our new home at Broadway and Flora was a dream come true for my parents.  They wanted to raise my two brothers and me in wide open spaces with lots of opportunities for fun and adventure.  That first winter we had many adventures and met a lot of folks who came to our door for help in the record snowfall.  Dad’s zest to be a “farmer” provided more opportunities to meet our neighbors when our garden produced bushels of tomatoes and dozens upon dozens of corn and the boys sold it for 50 cents a dozen.  Yes, Greenacres was the place to be!

Ron and Hazel Hatcher – my parents
            Happily married for 65 years this August, my parents have provided a strong foundation for my two brothers Lyle and Steve Hatcher and me as we have raised our own families.  My dad and mom taught us a strong work ethic, the importance of being someone who can be counted on to do what's right, and how to always have fun.  Both retired — Dad as Transportation Supervisor at Supervalu and Mom after 30 years teaching in the East Valley School District—they enjoy keeping up with their six grand and five great grand children. 

Richard “Rich” Thompson—my husband 
            A retired carpenter who now enjoys his work in Plant Services at Gonzaga, Rich and I will have been married for 31 years in November.  I love him for his “keep you on your toes” humor, brilliant mind, and personal fortitude.  No matter what challenges life throws at us, we always stand strong together.  Originally from Dover Idaho, Rich is an outdoor guy who enjoys our backyard pond and birds. 
           Raising my children in Spokane Valley close to family and friends was as great as I hoped.  Both of them enjoyed opportunities to grow and excel in school, in sports/activities and learned the importance of giving back through community service.   As University High (U-Hi) graduates Katee (1998) and Nate (2006) both graduated from  Washington State University with degrees in Criminal Justice and Business Operations and Management respectively.  I believe the Central Valley District education they received gave them a strong foundation for success in school and committed to be lifelong learners. 

Katee (Pierce) and Jack Claros—my daughter and son-in-law
with Jaylee June and Aubree Aliciana – my grandgirls 
            A national company award winning Human Resources Manager, Katee continues to amaze me as she juggles a high pressure career, being a military spouse, and, most delightfully, being an excellent mother to my darling little grandgirls Jaylee June and Aubree Aliciana.   An identical triplet (we got the cutest one!) our son-in-law Jack graduated from Ferris (1998) before heading to WSU.  Joining the Washington National Guard as freshmen Jack and his brothers Joe and Don graduated together as 1st Lieutenants with Katee in 2002.  An architect, Jack is also a Major in the Army National Guard and has served deployments in both Iraq and Afghanistan.  

Nate and Laura Thompson—my son and daughter-in-law
           Working for local aerospace supplier UTC, Nate continues to give back to our community with Spokane Rotaract and an organizer of the annual Spokane Junior Lilac Parade.   I love that he always makes time for family and friends – recently traveling all over the country for friends and family weddings.  A U-Hi graduate (2008) our daughter-in-law Laura (Leach) is a landscape designer (WSU 2012) with SPV.  Also active with Rotaract she is also in a leadership role with Rotaract and the Junior Lilac Parade.  Having Laura in our family is absolutely wonderful!

Lyle and Steve (deceased) Hatcher – my brothers
            Growing up with two younger brothers was a blast!  From playing basketball in the driveway to riding bikes to the river to being involved in all kinds of sports and activities in school, we had the best childhood any kids could ever want.  Central Valley Schools provided us with a great education that supported success in our lives.  Lyle, a retired investment broker and author/movie producer, and his wife Maria live in Liberty Lake.  Sadly, we lost my brother Steve who was a captain with the Spokane Valley Fire Department in 2015.  My sister in law Mindy lives just outside of Spokane Valley city limits.   Lyle's boys Paul (wife Jenne Dolan was a Bear and they have two children) and Ben Hatcher (wife Mallory Dewitt is a native Texan but she would have made a great Titan or Bear) were Titans while Steve and Mindy's girls Marissa Fuher (husband Corey was a Titan and they have a brand new baby boy) & Breanne Sitter (husband Zach was a CV grad too!) were Bears so our family’s allegiance to Central Valley Schools is solid! Our extended family is Spokane Valley Strong!

Special memorial for my cherished little son--for him I have dedicated my lifework:
Trevor Ford Pierce – Born 9/16/1982 - Died 8/16/1986 
          On Saturday August 16, 1986 my little three year old son Trevor was sitting beside his paternal grandfather on a pony cart on their way to be in a parade in LA Center WA.  My daughter Katee, who was six at the time, was riding behind the pony cart on her horse.  Another young woman was behind her on a bike going to the parade as well.  At 9:30 on that bright summer day a several time repeat drunk driver came down the road and plowed into them—killing Trevor and the girl on the bike, severely injuring their grandpa but, thankfully, avoided seriously injuring Katee.    To honor Trevor I have dedicated my life work to the prevention of impaired driving and substance abuse/violence.  Sharing his story makes his life count while saving countless others.   My hope is that we can make a difference through education, speaking up, reducing the stigma of treatment and recovery so others will not have to suffer the lifelong loss of tragic deaths due to alcohol and/or drugs. 

To honor my brother:
Steve Neil Hatcher – Born 11/5/1957 - Died 8/5/2015
     A heart attack took the life of my youngest brother Steve two years ago.  It is still hard to believe that he won't just stop by.  I just can't give him a call  or run into him at a yard sale.  One of the things I loved about Steve was that he was a 'show up guy'.  He just showed up when it was just the right time--to help at family events, on GSSAC projects, to fix something he knew needed to be fixed, or just to visit.  When I ran for office before he tried to get me to use our family name Hatcher so folks would remember me/us from high school or our parents' long time work and involvement in the community.     So, to honor my baby brother I am proud to be running for Spokane Valley City Council as Linda (Hatcher) Thompson and you can count me on to 'show up like Steve" as your City Councilmember.