Horace Thomas Hayes

Horace Thomas “Tom” Hayes was born on January 17, 1939 in Laurens, SC to Jesse Thomas Hayes and Devora Masters Hayes. He passed away at age 85 on March 15th, 2024. He was a resident of Spokane, WA for 36 years, after previously living in Kent, WA; Gladstone, MO; Rochester, NY and Pickens, SC.

He earned an Associates in Science from the University of NY.

He served five years in the United States Air Force, reaching the rank of Staff Sargeant. He spent four of those years in Ramstein, Germany.

Tom retired as the West Coast Executive Acct. Manager for Siemens telecommunications in 1998, after 36 years with Stromberg Carlson, General Dynamics and Siemens, garnering numerous sales and management awards during his career.

His hobbies and interests included flying, skydiving, traveling, bowling, golf, pool, ping-pong, Ham radio, writing, photography, political involvement, computers, sailing and magic.

He was the PCO & DL for the Spokane County GOP, State Rep & Spokane County Chairman of the Constitution Party, Board Member of the “We Believe We Vote” organization, and member of the Civil Air Patrol.

He was a Christian, baptized in Spokane, WA and re-dedicated in the Jordan River in Israel in 2016.

He was passionate about living life fully, not merely existing. He experienced God’s creation fully as a world traveler, visiting all 7 continents, including many countries. He loved God and his family with zeal, and showed it. He was competitive, adventurous, ambitious, innovative, driven and determined, and was known for persevering when others would give up. He concurred with his dad’s expression of determination, “I will bite a nail in two if I have to!”

He is survived by his wife Donna Harris Hayes, son Colin Hayes (Rebecca), daughters Bonnie Hayes Richardson (Jimmie) and Andrea Hayes Cerenzia (Nick) and five grandchildren: Natalie (Pierce), Sarah, Lindsey, Emily and Austin. Military Honors are scheduled for 11:15 a.m. Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at the Washington State Veteran’s Cemetery, 21702 W. Espanola Rd., Medical Lake, WA 99022.  To leave condolences for the family, please visit Horace’s Tribute Wall.  Donations are being accepted at the Wounded Warrior Project.