Richard Hayes
Born May 18, 1960 in Paris, Tennessee, he was proud to be a Tennessean. You could always find him cheering for the home teams: the Tennessee Volunteers, the Titans, and the Predators. He never met a stranger he couldn’t talk to, nor a truck or machine he couldn’t operate. He was most proud of his daughter, Krista, and his granddaughter, Kendra. After retiring from the State of Tennessee Highway Department, he spent most of his time helping his daughter, Krista, catering to his granddaughter, Kendra and caring for his mother. Nothing made him happier than helping others, especially if that meant he could go somewhere in his truck and talk to everyone he met along the way.
Mr. Hayes is predeceased by his grandparents, Lee and Ethel Hayes and John and Bertha Stokes and his father, Warren G. Hayes.
Mr. Hayes is survived by his mother, Mary S. Hayes, daughter, Krista, granddaughter, Kendra, and sister Marilyn. He is also survived by one uncle, Jack Stokes, and a multitude of cousins scattered from Tennessee to California. He met and connected instantly with his biological half-brother a couple of years ago, and a biological half-sister earlier this year. He was blessed with family and friends that will miss him dearly.
Per his wishes, there will be a graveside service only. It will be held Wednesday, July 5, 2023 at 2pm in the Springfield Memorial Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, please embrace your loved ones, reconnect with family and friends, and smile, at the very least, at the strangers you meet along the path of life. You never know when one friendly word can make all the difference in someone’s day or week.
Austin & Bell Funeral Home in Springfield is in charge of these arrangements.
