Thomas Francis Hayes

Thomas Francis Hayes, 85, passed to eternal life at 3:30 pm on Sunday, December 4, at his home surrounded by his loving family.  Born December 13, 1936, in Chicago IL, he was the son of Dennis Francis Hayes and Irene Pauline Jandak.  He married Carolyn Sue Davis on October 3, 1959, at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church where he has been a member for 63 years and has served as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion.

Following graduation in 1955 from St. Mel Catholic High School in Chicago IL, he joined the United States Air Force and was stationed at Grissom (a.k.a. Bunker Hill) Air Force Base in 1956 when he met his bride-to-be on a blind date.  After a tour of duty in South America and receipt of the Good Conduct Medal, he was honorably discharged in 1963 after serving four years of active duty and four years of reserve duty. He is a past president of the Grissom Chapter of the Air Force Association.

He graduated from Indiana University in 1970 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Management and Administration and was a life member of the IU Alumni Association. 

He retired September 1, 1998, from General Motors following a 36.4-year career with Delphi Delco Electronics. The majority of his career was spent in Human Resources, with concentration on organizational development consulting and training.  He is a past member of Elks BPOE Lodge 190, Moose Lodge 179, and Sunrise Kiwanis Club.

He enjoyed downhill snow skiing, ballroom dancing, golf, pickleball, bocce, reading, wintering at The Villages in Florida, playing softball, coaching youth baseball, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.  He and his wife were competitive ballroom dancers from 1996 to 2002.  He is a past president of the Ballroom Dance Club of Kokomo, a charter board member of the Heartland Chapter (Indianapolis) of USA Dance, and past Director of Youth College Network Business Affairs for the national USA Dance organization. 

Surviving to cherish his memory in addition to his wife of 63 years are his daughter and son-in-law, Deborah and Patrick Underwood of Kokomo;  two grandsons, Ryan Underwood of Marina Del Rey CA and Evan Underwood of Playa Vista CA;  one sister Virginia (Douglas) Kersey, Northbrook IL; one brother Peter (Susan) Dever, Chicago IL; three nephews, Brian (Julia) Kersey, Park Ridge IL, John (Brittany) Kersey, Chicago IL, and Michael Dever, Chicago, IL; one niece, Jennie (Steve) Larsen, Chicago, IL; and two great nieces and five great nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 am on Saturday, December 10, at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, 3155 South 200 West, Kokomo, with Rev. Fr. Stephen Duquaine as the celebrant.  Burial will follow in Sunset Memory Garden Cemetery with military rites provided by the United States Air Force and the Kokomo VFW Military Rites Team. Friends may visit with the family from 4 to 7 pm on Friday, December 9, at the church. Memorial contributions in memory of Tom may be made to St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church or Alzheimer’s Association. The family wishes to thank the staff at Compassus Hospice for the compassionate care provided during Tom’s final days. Shirley & Stout Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.  Messages of condolence may be left online at www.shirleyandstout.com.

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