Jeffrey David Hair

It is with relief and regret that we announce the passing of Jeffrey David Hair. Regret, because he was loved so much and relief that he has escaped the dementia which had confused him. He was born on May 26, 1942 to Jeanne Marie Burkart and Raymond Lewis Hair and passed on June 19, 2026 surrounded by his immediate family.

Dave is survived by his childhood sweetheart and wife of 62 years, Ann Elizabeth Gorton, and two daughters, Kelly (Brooks) and Amy, as well as two grandchildren, Andrew and Elena. Other family members are brother Dan (Faith) and sister-in-law, Loretta, as well as five nephews and their families in Florida.

He was not a standout student because he had ADD which was unheard of back then, but he had the curiosity and ability to teach himself what he wanted to know. He learned to play the piano and continued to enjoy playing throughout his lifetime. After high school, he spent four years in the US Air Force as a weather observer in Savannah, Georgia. He was graduated from the University of South Florida with a degree in chemistry. His first job was in the lab at GE, which operated a plant for the Atomic Energy Commission making triggers for atom bombs. He learned to work with extreme precision. (This stood him well as he developed into an excellent woodworker.) Eventually, he moved into Quality Assurance and Control.

A friend in Colorado called him about an opening at Kaman Sciences in Quality Assurance management. He spent 14 years at Kaman becoming Director of Technical Services and eventually learning about the process of making a chemically formed ceramic coating to decrease wear on sliding machinery parts.

Richard Smith, a customer, encouraged him to do this process in Hot Springs, so Dave and his partner, Jeff Carr, relocated here in 1988.

Dave had a remarkable sense of humor—the kind that could break up a tense moment at a meeting or make a party fun. He had a sense of responsibility to the people who worked with him. K-Tech, Inc. paid generous salaries, health care for families and participated in the creation of 401 Ks for all the employees.

But his life wasn’t all about work. As a Jay Cee he ran the Dunedin Pram Fleet in Florida to teach kids how to sail. He taught astronomy lab for St Petersburg Jr. College at night on Dunedin Beach with telescopes. He learned to fly and made two flights to Andros Island in the Bahamas in a single engine plane. (Dave gave up flying in Colorado when he realized he lived higher than he flew in Florida!)

In Colorado he became interested in bicycle riding and rode two of the Hardscrabble pass 100-mile bicycle races. He enjoyed camping with his family up in Baldwin Gulch near Mt Antero and driving his family on the rocky, unpaved mountain roads in his Toyota Land Cruiser.

In Arkansas, he continued hiking locally and took several Hot Springs friends back to the Rockies for weeks long hikes. He took up long distance bicycle riding on recumbent bikes. He made a 42-day trip from San Diego to St. Augustine, Florida on his recumbent which he wrote about online at Crazy Guy on a Bike.

Dave used his time on earth well. Those of us who love him are happy to know his spirit has joined the universe which so fascinated him.

The Hair family will host a celebration of Dave’s life Friday, June 26th from 5-7 at the Chittum Venue located at 305 Forest Lakes Blvd.

Donations in Dave’s name should be sent to the Mid-America Science Museum or the Sister City Foundation.