LOGAN, UTAH: Prominent Logan businessman and leader, Blaine W. Hancey, 87, passed away Jan. 8, 2005 of congestive heart failure. He died in his home surrounded by his loving family.

Blaine was born June 14, 1917 to Berty Wilbur and Leah Dorthea Christensen Hancey in Hyde Park, Utah. He was the first of four children. Blaine married his sweetheart, NeVada Caroline Watterson, in the Logan Temple on Feb. 22, 1940.

Blaine grew up in Hyde Park where he played drums in a popular dance band, hunted, fished, and played baseball.

Blaine graduated from North Cache High and Utah State Agriculture College where he majored in accounting and minored in modern languages. He loved and studied the French language all his life. He read the Book of Mormon in the French language five times.

Four days after Blaine and NeVada married, they said goodbye when he entered the mission home to serve a two-year L.D.S. mission to the Southern States. During his mission he was a district president and mission home recorder.

After returning from his mission, Blaine worked as an accountant and later became a certified public accountant in 1949. He was a founding partner of Hancey Jones Waters and Wright, at one time the largest CPA firm in Cache Valley. He retired in 1984. The firm continues today as Jones Simpkins. Blaine loved going to work each day and his life-long clients included businessmen and farmers throughout the region. They sought and appreciated his insight and advice on their business affairs.

Blaine lived an active life of service to his community and enjoyed associating with the wonderful people and leaders of Cache Valley. He served many years on the Logan Hospital board (12 years), the Sunshine Terrace Foundation, the Boy Scouts of America Executive Council, the Logan-Cache library board, the Cache Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors (president, 1981), Kiwanis Club (president and 35 years perfect attendance), Utah State’s Department of Business advisory council, and the Utah Scientific Research Foundation (during which time the Trackmaster snow machine was developed). Blaine served for six years on the State of Utah’s Systems Planning Steering Board and for two years was chairman of the board, reporting directly to the governor. He was a member of Utah State’s Old Main Society, the President’s Club, and in 1985 was awarded the Professional Achievement Award by Utah State’s Alumni Association.

Blaine held many LDS ward and stake callings, was a counselor in the Cache Stake Presidency (9 years) and was stake president (9 years). While stake president, he was for a time the area welfare leader responsible for overseeing operations of the Deseret Cheese Plant, the Bishop’s Storehouse, Deseret Industries, the tri-stake farms, and the Tabernacle grounds. Also, during the Teton Dam disaster, he was responsible for organizing five daily busloads of volunteers to assist the victims. Blaine loved God and served his fellowmen.

Blaine was a committed father. His three children graduated from Utah State and married in the Temple. For twenty student years, he and his wife opened their home to five Navaho students under the L.D.S. church’s Indian Placement Program.

Blaine had a life-long interest and love for aviation, traveling, sports, music, and the outdoors. As a young man he often visited the Logan airport and flew in an old Eagle Rock biplane. He received his pilot’s license in 1959 and enjoyed flying his airplanes for many years.

Blaine loved sports as a spectator and participant and enjoyed many golfing friendships at the Logan Country Club and on Saint George courses. He belonged to HUG (Happy Utah Golfers) and GGG (Great Gentlemen Golfers). He shot his age every year from age 71 until he had to give up the sport at age 83. He was a loyal Aggie fan and Big Blue Club supporter. Blaine had a great love for the outdoors and enjoyed fishing and hunting with his sons. A few days before he died, he said, “I wish everyone could enjoy their life like I have enjoyed my wonderful life.”

Blaine had many good character traits. He enjoyed people, was compassionate, caring, and was without guile. He was able to effectively counsel and help people. Some of his clients said he was the most honest man they had ever met. His quick wit and humor were legendary.

Blaine is survived by his wife, NeVada, and children, Claudia H. (Richard) Bracken of Logan, Blaine W. (Susann Thompson) Hancey of Providence, and D. Craig (Janet Hale) Hancey of Erda, Utah; a sister, Gayla Sullivan of Bridgeport, Connecticut, a sister Carol (Bill) Parker of Ogden, and a brother-in-law Alma (Lila) Watterson of Providence; 15 grandchildren and 25 great-grand children. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Richard.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, Jan. 15, at 12 noon in the 9th Ward Chapel, 100 East and 500 North. Friends and family may call Friday 6-7:30 p.m. at Allen-Hall Mortuary, 34 E Center and on Saturday from 10:30-11:30 a.m. at the 9th Ward before the services. Interment will be in the Logan Cemetery.

The family would like to express appreciation for the compassion-ate care given by Blaine’s doctors, and the nurses, aides and staff of Vista Care who helped make it possible for him to stay in his home during his last days. Condolences may be sent to the family at Allen-Hall Mortuary.