Wayne Carlton Paiva, of Roy, Washington, died on Nov. 28, 2022, at home alongside his wife Kathy, family and friends, ending a long battle with cancer. He was 77 years old.
Wayne was born to Joseph and Laurel Paiva in Bridgewater, Massachusetts on March 19, 1945. He grew up in the local area and attended Brockton High School. Wayne moved to Graham, Washington as a young adult.
He worked for Boeing as a painter, where he was elected as shop steward to represent worker’s issues with management. Through the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s, he owned logging and construction companies. However, due to work related injuries, he changed careers. He studied counseling and case management at Northwest Indian College and became a drug and alcohol treatment counselor and then later moved into sales. He ultimately earned his license as a real estate broker practicing in Yelm, Washington.
He married Edna and they had a son, Justin, in 1973. They divorced but were amicable at the time of his passing. Wayne married Kathy Schatz in 2000 and they shared a 22-year marriage together. Wayne was grandpa to Kathy’s grandchildren who loved him dearly and surely will miss him.
Wayne struggled with alcoholism for many years, which he finally gave up on Dec. 29, 1980. He stayed a sober and positive contributor to life for over 41 years. He was an active home group member and held many service positions within the fellowship around Graham, Spanaway and Yelm. He helped dozens of alcoholics achieve sobriety over the years and the fellowship he formed stood with his family and embraced him in his final hours. Wayne said the key to a good life could be boiled down to a simple statement, “Go to work, do your job, pay your bills and keep your mouth shut.” He was a straight talker but well spoken.
He held high expectations for the people he sponsored. He would say, “If you were still angry and sarcastic after 30 years sober you have more work to do; whatever you have received from the graces of God — pass it on.” He understood that helping others, as tough as that may be sometimes, was the cornerstone of his new life and gave him that long sought sense of fulfillment and belonging. He did not rise perfectly into sobriety and would say to those around him that he continued to learn valuable moral and spiritual lessons right up to the time he passed. Regarding people’s often “difficult” behavior, he rejected the idea of “good” and “evil.” He said, “We were all just sick people getting well.” He relentlessly pursued the four spiritual absolutes with himself and those he sponsored: purity of motive, honesty, unselfishness and love. To that end, he was always available to help you. All you had to do was call and he would be there for you.
Wayne is survived by his wife Kathy, her children and grandchildren, his sister Delyne and her daughter Heather, his son Justin and his children and grandchildren, and Wayne’s niece, Cory.
A celebration of life potluck for Wayne will be held on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2022, from noon to 4 p.m. at the Yelm Community Center. Bring your favorite dish.
