Donald Charles Reno Obituary (2025)

My dad, Don Reno was born on March 15th 1953, and he passed away on September 13, 2025. He was the oldest of four children, and the only boy, so you know those girls were endlessly picked on. (Remember the Oreos from the couch cushions, and the creature from the Black Lagoon?) When he was younger, his family lived all over before finally settling in Yakima. He was a 1972 graduate of Davis high school. Dad always had a love of cars, tinkering with them, making them go faster, and tuning them to win. He started racing at Renegade Raceway when it opened, and by the 1980s he was racing his 1969 Dodge Charger, he nicknamed Poltergeist. He passed that love of speed down to me and in the early 1990s he bought me a race car, I'm pretty sure he was trying to live vicariously through me! We drug that thing all over the PNW and Canada. Those trips are some of the best memories of my life. In 1990 he opened his shop, Renos Automotive, and I'm pretty sure he worked on 90% of this valleys Subarus over the 30 years he was open, and developed some pretty great friendships too. Dad met Pat when I was still in high school. I gave him crap about online dating, but now I eat my words because they celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary on August 12th She made his life complete. They went on many adventures in his Corvette, (he always got told to slow down) and other trips to Las Vegas, and Reno. They loved spending time with each other, and you could always tell by the way they picked on each other. In the last few years when it was hard for dad to get around, he would get me to go out and get whatever special gift he wanted for her, whether it be for a birthday, anniversary, or just because. Pat took their marriage vows of in sickness and in health seriously, and took care of him day and night for the last 5 years, and for this I, and the rest of the family will be forever grateful! Dad was preceded in death by his parents Jerry and Marie Hamilton, sister Sheila Young, and granddaughter Hayley Sauve. He is survived by his wife Pat Thomas, sister Carolyn Craft (husband Rick), sister Patty Reno, daughter Stacey Wilson (husband Robert) grandchildren, Zoey Mercado, Korey Reno-Maier, and Brodey Wilson. Also, nieces and nephew Michelle, Jason, Kristina, and Ashley. Dad is also survived by lifelong friends he considered brothers, Guy Simmons, Les Swale and Jim Fraizer. You've crossed the finish Line for the last time dad. Race in Paradise, say Hi to Hayley for me, I love you old man!