Gene P. Mayer

Eugene P. “Gene” Mayer died Sunday, November 17, 2013, at Cottage in the Meadows. He was 83. Gene was born in Yakima, Washington, on June 10, 1930, to Albert A. Mayer, a contractor, and Elva (Cornwall) Mayer. Gene left home at 14, traveling to Peoria, Illinois, then on to Hot Springs, Arkansas, and from there to Fairbanks, Alaska, where he started the Gold Nugget Cab Co. He returned home to Yakima in 1947 and worked in the car business, asphalt and paving, Noel Bottling Co. and Sullivan’s Cleaners. Gene got into the real estate business in 1955 and in 1961 he founded Associated Realtors, which eventually became Coldwell Banker Associated Realtors, one of the largest real estate agencies in Yakima. Gene sold the business in 2010 to one of his employees. Gene was a leader in the Washington State real estate industry working towards making a career in real estate a profession rather than just a business, including the requirement for continuing education (“clock hours’). He was a founder of an elite statewide group known as NW Brainstormers, which included real estate brokers in all of the major market areas in Washington.

Gene was a major player in the rezoning of Yakima because of his various business interests. Among the major enterprises he has been involved with, usually with partners, were the truck stop complex in Union Gap known as the Gearjammer, the K-Mart development, shopping centers in College Park, Tri-Cities and Wenatchee, apartment complexes, the 300 Building, and the Tancara, Kimberly and Heritage Hills subdivisions. He always felt that Yakima was a good community and a good place to invest. Gene didn’t come from a wealthy family, but he has been “able to succeed” and believed in hard work. One of his favorite sayings was, “I don’t consider myself to be a particularly smart man, but I knew enough to surround myself with smart people.” He also used to say, “If you want a better income… you have to become a better person.” Finally, another favorite quote was, “I’ve been poor and I’ve been rich, I like rich a whole lot better.”

On June 11, 1983, he married the love of his life, Diane Burfiend, at the Seattle Yacht Club. They spent many years together traveling, spending time in his favorite city, Palm Desert, California, and on his boat, “The Amour,” in Roche Harbor, Washington. He had a love for boats and spent many hours cruising the waters of the San Juan Islands.

Survivors include his wife of 30 years, Diane Mayer; his brother, Fonny (Mim) Davidson of Boise, Idaho; his grandchildren Kasey Miles of Selah, Nick Mayer of Seattle, Kim Mayer-Hill (Parker) of Long Beach, Washington, and his great grandchildren Rylee Miles and Carson Hill. Gene was predeceased by his parents, his brother, Elvin Mayer, his sister, Wanda Cherington, his son, Randy Mayer, and his daughter Leann Mayer Burns. Gene is also survived by several cousins, nieces and nephews.

Gene is also survived by his special friends Terry and Jill Meloy and James and Heidi Speidel.

We would like to give special thanks to Gene’s caregiver, Hilda Garcia, who was a gentle, loving and kind caregiver to Gene for the last three years of his life. We would also like to give special thanks to Cottage in the Meadows who helped Gene to pass peacefully with dignity.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Cottage in the Meadows. The family will have a private burial.

The family will have a private burial. A Celebration of Gene’s life will be 3pm, Friday, November 22, 2013 at the Yakima Valley Museum. To share a memory about Gene go to www.keithandkeith.com