Obituary: Hayes, Kenneth M.
Age 84
He had been working in the field just a few days prior to his death, and his passing was as he wanted it; farming until the end.
Kenneth was born on May 6, 1931, to Francis and Maud Sarah Hayes in Klamath Falls, Oregon.
During his growing up years the family moved to various places, but ended up in Touchet, Washington.
Kenneth worked on the farm, went to school, and had many adventures with friends, the stories of which he could relate in detail up until the very end.
After high school he joined the Air Force.
He served until 1952.
Bob Hutsell, a friend during Kenneth’s service days, introduced him to Dolores Zellmer.
Kenneth and Dolores were married on April 30, 1954, at the United Methodist Church in Davenport.
For five years Kenneth and Dolores lived in town, and then moved out to the farm where Kenneth began farming with his father-in-law, Ed Zellmer.
Kenneth and Dolores raised four children; John, Elizabeth, Richard, and Resa.
Raising a family and farming were Kenneth’s full time work, but he was also involved in the Farm Bureau since 1974.
He served in many leadership positions at both the county and state level.
Kenneth was also a member of the Washington Wheat Growers Association, and was on the board of the Davenport Union Warehouse.
He was elected to the board in 1967 and retired in 1991.
During that time he served as president of the board for many years.
Anyone who knew Kenneth well, knew about his love of reading and music.
Until his eyesight failed, he read anything he could get his hands on.
When he was not able to read he would listen to books on tape.
Kenneth’s love of music went back to his earliest memories of his mother playing an autoharp and singing.
He developed a love of opera and would listen to it in his tractor.
During the winter months, Kenneth and Dolores traveled to the Met in New York and various other cities around the country to enjoy operas.
In his last few years, Kenneth began what could be called a music ministry.
He would make cd’s with various musical selections from gospel to pop, along with video footage and send these cd’s to friends and family.
Kenneth joins family who have gone on before him; his wife of 58 years, Dolores; his brothers Lloyd and Melvin; and his sisters Norma and Myrtle.
He is survived by his children John Hayes of Grandview, Elizabeth Hall (Rick) of Burbank, Richard Hayes (Denise) of Davenport, and Resa Hayes of Spokane.
He is also survived by his sister Zona Newby of Yakima, and his brother Warren Hayes of Barrington, Illinois.
Kenneth loved his grandchildren and great- grandchildren and could even remember their birthdays.
They are: Allison (Alex) Barrett of Pasco, Jillian (Travis) Mahler of Eltopia, Aaron Hall of Burbank, Megan Hayes, and Camryn Hayes of Davenport, Ryan (Denise) James of Davenport, Aaron (Heather) James of West End, Justin Bachman of Fort Riley Kansas, and great-grandchildren: Wesley, Wyatt, and Walker Mahler of Eltopia, Zoe Barrett of Pasco, Josh, Nick, Ashlynn, and Jacob James of Davenport, Josh, Shalee, Brianna, Daniel, Julia, and Isaac James of West End, and Leo Bachman of Las Vegas.
A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, July 17, 2015, at 11:00 am.
in the chapel of Strate Funeral Home, Davenport, Washington.
Pastor Steve McLachlan will officiate.
A lunch will be held following the service at Trinity Bible Fellowship Church in Davenport.
Please visit www.stratefuneralhome.com to sign the guestbook.
Memorials may be made in Kenneth’s name to Wycliffe Bible Translators, P.O.
Box 628200 Orlando, Florida 32862 or The Old Fashioned Revival Hour, P.O.
Box 92765 Pasadena, California 91109-2765.
It is not always possible to fully know the impact that one person has on the lives of those around him.
We probably will not know, this side of Heaven, the many ways Dad impacted the lives of friends and family.
As his children, Dad impressed upon us the value of hard work, education, caring for family, loving and serving God, and being quietly generous.
He had strong opinions and beliefs and admired strength and initiative in others.
Above all else he loved his children and grandchildren, and if you had the time, he could regale you for hours with stories about them.
Dad lived a life that unfolded like the plot of one of his beloved books or operas.
In the last chapter, although a bit frailer, Dad was still the hero of the story, and the ending was a happy one.
We love you Dad, forever.
You made it home for harvest.
“Come harvest time what thanksgiving we will show When the plowman brings freedom from the earth here below Come harvest time, oh, what joy will be known When He gathers the souls of the seeds He has sown.”