Mr. James Roberts Hayes

He was born in Rockholds, Kentucky, on January 22, 1936, to George Douglass and Ruth Elizabeth Hayes. They later moved to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, where, after high school graduation and a year of college, he joined the U.S. Army and served as a paratrooper in the 101st Airborne and rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant. After leaving the Army, he became a welder to help pay for college. He met Anne Rose McAdon in Murfreesboro through Saint Rose Catholic Church. They were married on December 30, 1961.

Jim and Anne lived in Atlanta, Georgia and had two daughters, Mary Kathleen and Ruth Anne, while he attended Georgia Institute of Technology. In 1965 Jim contracted and survived Guillain-Barre syndrome and learned to walk again at Warms Springs, Georgia. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering in 1967.

Following graduation, he began work at the American Oil Company Texas City Refinery as head of mobile equipment and became a volunteer fire fighter. He transferred into the Safety Department and later transferred to the Chicago Corporate Office in 1974 holding various safety professional and director roles. During his 27-year career with Amoco Corporation, he was recognized for his technical expertise as an investigator and expert witness, and as recruiter of safety talent. He held various positions in the American Petroleum Institute (API) Petroleum Section and worked closely with OSHA and EPA administrators. He supported and was an Amoco Corporation sponsor of the Texas A&M International Chemical and Oil Fire Fighters School that was attended by Amoco’s domestic and international volunteer fire fighters.

Following retirement in 1994, Jim and Anne moved to Arbor Vitae, Wisconsin, became active in the community, participated in several charities, enjoyed fishing, boating, hiking and cross-country skiing, and Jim helped establish a Habitat for Humanity (H4H) affiliate serving in various roles. Later Jim and Anne moved near their daughters in Texas and settled in Spring Branch. They were active in St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church and Jim served in numerous ministries: Eucharistic Minister, Lector, Bible Study Facilitator, Presider at Communion Services, active member of the ACTS Retreat Program, 3rd and 4th Degree Knights of Columbus and the Prison Ministry traveling 400 miles roundtrip 2-3 times per week. Jim continued his service for H4H, helping build 37 homes domestically and internationally, including Jimmy Carter Work Projects in the Philippines and South Korea. On his urn is the inscription, “Soldier of God”.

He is survived by his loving wife and best friend, Anne Rose Hayes. His daughter and son-in-law, Mary Kathleen and Gary Alberts and granddaughter and grandson, Jennifer Lee and James Arnold. His daughter and son-in-law, Ruth Anne and Philip George Naughton, and grandsons, Matthew James and Philip Hayes. He is proceeded in death by his parents, George Douglass and Ruth Elizabeth Hayes, his brothers and sisters, Stella, Douglas, Patricia and Michael.

An open visitation will be held Friday, November 7th, 2025 at Ted Dickey Funeral Home, 2128 18th Street, Plano, TX 75074. from 6 p.m. - 7 p.m. with vigil services following, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Funeral services will be Saturday, November 8th, 2025, at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Angels Catholic Church, 1914 Ridgeview Drive, Allen, TX 75013, with Father Wade Bass and Father John Bell concelebrating. Live stream of the funeral is available at Our Lady of Angels site.

Interment will be held at later date in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery preceded by a Memorial Mass at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church in San Antonio.