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Family, friends pay tribute to victims of homicide

Dozens attend, share stories at local observation of annual National Day of Remembrance

By Paul Suarez
Published: September 23, 2011, 5:00pm
2 Photos
Lee Colvin wrings her hands as she listens to speakers at the Clark County National Day of Remembrance for Homicide Victims ceremony Friday.
Lee Colvin wrings her hands as she listens to speakers at the Clark County National Day of Remembrance for Homicide Victims ceremony Friday. Colvin was there in memory of her granddaughter, Tiffany Holley, who was killed in 2004 at age 17. Photo Gallery

Around 70 people packed into the Clark County Public Service Center on Friday morning for the local observance of the National Day of Remembrance for Homicide Victims.

A victims advocate from the county read the names of 59 victims in homicides from the past five years and 10 additional names were read by request for victims who died more than five years ago.

Gwen Wilgus kicked off the annual ceremony by sharing the story of her husband, Thomas Wilgus, who died in July 2005.

Thomas died on his way home from Izzy’s Restaurant on Northeast 78th Street. His car was hit by another vehicle that ran a red light.

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“I didn’t know that would be the last time I’d see him,” Wilgus told attendees Friday.

The driver of the other car spent 20 months in jail, she said.

“It’s not enough, in my opinion, for someone who killed my husband and changed our lives forever,” she said.

Wilgus kept an eye on the other driver’s name in the court records.

She said it came up twice this year. Once for speeding in a school zone and another time for driving with a revoked license.

She spoke with a judge before the driver appeared in court. She said he extended the driver’s sentence after hearing her story, Wilgus said.

She was grateful the judge heard her out, she said.

Other friends and family of victims shared stories of their loved ones.

Tina Walker said her mom, Hazel “Sis” Stephens, was killed by a neighbor in 2004.

She had trouble connecting with her stepmom because she reminds her of her mother, she said.

She initially had trouble coping with the loss but has found ways to adapt.

She has a book she writes in every time she wants to talk to her mom, she said.

The loss was more recent for others.

Debra Hathaway came for her friend David Gates, whose body was found Sept. 5 in the parking lot of Riverview Community Bank in Hazel Dell.

Hathaway said he was beaten to death while riding his bike.

She broke into tears while talking about what happened.

“I think the thing that bothers me the most was the pain he had to go through alone,” Hathaway said.

She doesn’t understand why anyone would take his life.

“He wouldn’t hurt anybody,” she said.

Gates was a kind man, a good grandfather and a close friend, she said. A slight smile came on her face while talking about her friend.

The two met at Jollie’s restaurant in Ridgefield, where they worked on the same shift. Eventually, Hathaway let Gates park his RV on her property in Ridgefield. He lived there for three years, she said.

Hathaway went to the ceremony with Gates’ stepdaughter Jessica Boyd and grandson Rylee Hansley, 2. The two live in Vancouver.

Boyd said Gates had raised her since she was 4.

“My dad is gone but never forgotten,” Boyd said during the ceremony.

Paul Suarez: 360-735-4522; Twitter: col_cops; paul.suarez@columbian.com.

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