MOSES LAKE - The uncertainty, worry and despair suffered by Dan Toya's friends and family over the past three months finally gave way to mourning last week.

Toya disappeared Dec. 23 at Potholes Reservoir while walking his dog, Molly. Countless searches were conducted by land, air and water, but it wasn't until Monday that his body was at last discovered.

"I'm just so grateful that we have found him now and not any more time has gone by," said Dan's wife, Hazel.

She thanked the hundreds of people who never gave up searching for her husband, a respected member of the community and a widely-known employee of Brotherton Seed Company for more than 20 years. She also thanked the members of her church, Moses Lake Alliance, for their constant support throughout the ordeal.

"I just cannot emphasize enough how many, many people have been praying for us and upholding us with their loving and kind ways," she said. "I cannot express how thankful I am for that."

Dan Toya, a resident of the Moses Lake area since the mid 1950s, was born Dec. 17, 1947 to Fred and Kimi Toya in Oregon City, Oregon.

He graduated from Moses Lake High School in 1966 and attended Big Bend Community College before earning a Bachelors of Science degree from Washington State University in 1970 and a Masters degree from Oregon State University in 1973.

Toya worked with a regional agriculture chemical company for several years before hiring on with Brotherton, where longtime friend and co-worker Harvey Ruff said he was well regarded for his intelligence and his humor.

"People always liked him. He was always friendly and very jokeable," Ruff said. "His growers were so sad to learn he'd disappeared. There wasn't a nicer person in the world."

Roy Andrews, who knew Toya for about 30 years as both a business associate and friend, also recalled Toya's love of a good joke.

"Dan liked to joke and tease people and play pranks on them," he said. "He was a pretty wonderful, happy-go-lucky guy. I'm going to miss him because he was always trying to tease you so you were always trying to come up with something to get him with before he got to you."

Andrews said he and his wife drove the Potholes area almost every night to see if they might find a clue as to Toya's whereabouts. As hard as it was to hear his friend's body had been found, he said it was also a relief.

"We no longer have to wonder if somebody kidnapped him or something else that was even more dramatic than what did happen," Andrews said. "I'm sure it's really tough on all of the family, but I'd rather know that it's over and go on with life than sit there and worry every day and wonder if he's going to show up."

Mardon Resort owner Mike Meseberg said for years he's been good friends with Toya's brother, Rollin, but never had the chance to meet Toya while he was alive.

"I almost feel like I did know him through all the interactions after his disappearance," he said. "So many people in the community came by during the three month search and I never heard anything but good things about him as a man and in his business dealings. The family is wonderful people. They've just been a really positively received family in the community forever."

Toya was for many years active with the Warden Fire Department and as a first responder with Grant County Fire District 4. He enjoyed fishing, working in his garden and travelling with Hazel, his wife of eight years.

Ruff said Toya, along with his brother and mother, were very active with the Moses Lake Farmer's Market, where his friend always liked to share a laugh with the customers.

Like Andrews, Ruff spent countless hours searching for his friend, and he said it was hard to learn of last week's discovery.

"I was sad we didn't find him alive because I was still hoping in the back of my mind," he said. "But I'm glad we did find him and we no longer have to sit and wonder, 'what do we do?'"

Hazel Toya said she's been touched by the community concern shown for her husband.

"People have just ... I tell you, it's wonderful when you can live in a community like this, where everyone has been praying and hoping for the best," Hazel Toya said. "I'm just really relieved we have this closure now."

A memorial service for Dan Toya will be held Tuesday at 3 p.m. at the Moses Lake Alliance Church, 110 N. Grape Drive, with Pastor Jody Bowser officiating. In lieu of flowers, people are invited to make a donation in Toya's memory to the Moses Lake Alliance Church building fund.