Richard “Dick” Haffey, age 87, passed away April 14, 2014 in Shoreline, Wash. He was born in 1926 in Spokane, Wash., where he lived until graduating from high school.

He first came to Orcas Island to work for his uncle, George Penning. It was at this time that he met Madeline Reddick who was later to become his wife.

Dick joined the army in 1948 and was stationed at Fort Holabird, Md. While on furlough in 1950, he and Madeline were married and lived for awhile in Baltimore, Md. When Dick was sent to Korea, he worked as an aerial photo interpreter. After serving in the army, he and Madeline moved to Los Angeles, Calif., where he graduated from Choiunard Art Institute. One of his favorite jobs after art school was working as an assistant art director for Westways magazine with the So. California Automobile Club. Following this he worked for Mattel Toys for nearly 30 years, becoming an art director and manager. During this time, he joined the Business Men’s Art Association in Los Angeles where he took oil painting classes. He studied with Sergei Bongart, Harold Kramer and Rex Brandt.

He retired in 1990 and moved to Shoreline,Wash. It was from there that he and Madeline fulfilled a lifelong dream of having a home on Orcas. Dick “retired” to his studio at his Orcas home and continued to paint in oils. He did landscapes, animal portraits, cartoons and caricatures. He was always willing to do art work for the local paper and for fundraising events. He also enjoyed teaching cartooning to the school children.

Health concerns led to his spending the last year and a half in Shoreline.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Madeline Haffey, daughter, Melissa Coronado and son in law Humberto Coronado, granddaughter Christina Coronado of Ballard, Wash. and Jessica Coronado of Shoreline, Wash., and brother, Ervin Forsstrom of Oceanside, Calif.

Dick was preceded in death by his parents, Charles Haffey and Ann Forsstrom.

A memorial service will be held at Eastsound at a later date. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to a charity of your choice.