James R. Hayes

Published 12:00 am Thursday, April 29, 2010

James R. “Ron” Hayes, 72, of Austin, died Sunday, April 25, 2010 at his home in Alexandria.
Ron was born May 24, 1937 to James Lawrence and Alice Ellen (Savage) Hayes. On Nov. 30, 1957, he married Constance Sue Carnell. Ron graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1961. He taught agricultural education for more than 40 years in Henderson, Minn. and Ellendale, Minn. and adult farm management in Austin, before retiring in 2001.
Ron was an award winning livestock producer and a member of the Mower County Fair Board. He was inducted into the Mower County Fair Hall of Fame and volunteered for 4-H, FFA, FFA Alumni and several other volunteer projects. Ron was a longtime member of Our Lady of Loretto Catholic Church in Brownsdale, Minn. and the Brandon Catholic Church in Brandon, Minn. In his retirement years, he loved to spend time with family, especially his grandchildren and friends. Ron continued to work with his “farm” families doing taxes and financial planning.  He enjoyed living his summers at the lake in Alexandria, Minn. boating, fishing, and walking.
Survivors include his wife of 53 years, Constance Sue “Connie” Hayes of Austin; children, Heidi Sue (Gary) Peterson of Rochester, Daniel Patrick (Judy) Hayes of Rochester, Thomas Ronald (Bev) Hayes of Syracuse, N.Y., Michael Edward Hayes of Boise, Idaho, Holly Ann (Steve) Berger of Inver Grove Heights; five grandchildren, Jayme (Alexander), Jacob, Eric, Jonathan, Kyle; sisters, Elaine (Doug) Blackman of East Grand Forks, Lois (Bob) Kovacovich of Danville, Calif.; brother, Richard (Mary) Hayes of Glencoe; numerous nieces, nephews and friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Loretta, Joan, Marcella, LeVita, Luella; brother, Joseph “Buck” Hayes; infant brother; grandson, Joshua.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 2 p.m. on Friday, April 30, 2010 at Queen of Angels Catholic Church with Father Dale Tupper officiating. There will be a 6:30 p.m. wake service on Thursday at Mayer Funeral Home where friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. and also one hour before the service at the church on Friday. Interment will be in Greenwood Cemetery in Brownsdale.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the American Cancer Society or the Mayo Clinic Cancer Research Center.
Arrangements are by Mayer Funeral Home.