Russell H. Hayes

Russell H. Hayes, 62, El Dorado Springs, passed away Oct. 4, 2018, surrounded by his family.

Russ was born Jan. 15, 1956, to Dan and Marge Hayes in Nevada. Russ played high school football and basketball. Like his father, he won a state title in basketball.

On Aug. 13, 1982, Russ married Susan Walton and the following day he transferred to El Dorado Springs for Dunbrooke Sportswear.

There, they started a life with Susan’s two young sons, Jeremy and David. He took them in and treated them as if they were his own. He soon was ready to adopt the two young boys and finalize everything to make them a true family.

Russ started work as a custodian for Dunbrooke at age 16 and continued his career with them for the next 30 years. Russ closed his career with Dunbrooke as Head Mechanic.

Russ was an avid sportsman. He loved deer hunting with his father, Dan, and trout fishing with his sister, Patti. He had learned of his love for the outdoors through the Boy Scouts. Most everyone who knew Russ knows about Russ’s man cave, The Museum of Deer and all things Wildlife.

Russ started volunteering for the El Dorado Springs, Missouri Fire Department in 1976.

Through the years of firefighting, his love for two things never changed, the love for his family and the love of helping others. He was always one of the first ones to offer his help. It didn’t matter who you were. For someone with a tough outer shell, he had the biggest, softest heart. And once you got him to smile, you knew it was going to be okay.

Preceding Russ in death were his parents, Dan and Marge, and a brother, Danny Joe.

Survivors include his beloved wife, Susan, of the home; sons, Jeremy (Renea) and David, both of El Dorado Springs; sisters, Sue Biddlecome of El Dorado Springs, Lisa Harper (Dennis) of Springfield, and Patti Hayes of Springfield; and three grandsons –  Branden, Derek, and Gavin of El Dorado Springs.

A funeral service was held on Sunday, Oct. 7, in the El Dorado å Church of God (Holiness) with Rev. Joe Trussell officiating. Interment followed in El Dorado Springs City Cemetery under the direction of Bland-Hackleman Funeral Home.

Pallbearers were Ron Brown, David Barger, Craig Carpenter, David Taylor, Bob Floyd, Roger Floyd, Roger Hensley and Aaron Smith. The rest of the El Dorado Springs Fire Department were honorary pallbearers.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to MDA (Jerry’s Kids) and left at the funeral home.

Online condolences may be left at www.blandhackleman.com.