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Randell E. Hayes, 64

Randell Eugene Hayes was born on December 20, 1958, to Loyd Dell and Verian Constance (Speicher) Hayes in Smith Center, Kansas. He passed away without pain from an accident on November 5, 2023, while helping a neighbor near his home in Florissant, Colorado. Randy attended grade school and Junior High School at Lebanon, Kansas until the fall of 1973 when he was transferred to Downs High School in Downs, Kansas, his freshman year. He graduated from DHS with the class of 1977 and continued his education at Butler County Community College in Eldorado, Kansas, and then transferred to Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina, Kansas, graduating in 1981 with a computer science degree. While at KWU, he set the decathlon record in track and field and still holds it as of today.
His first employment opportunity was with Hardman Lumber Company in Osborne, Kansas. He was employed at Peterson Industries in Smith Center, Kansas. He moved to Salina in 1990 and was employed with Geoprobe Systems from 1990 until his retirement in June of 2018.
Randy had a strong determination to be the best at whatever he was challenged with. He had a natural athletic ability, but besides that, he put in the extra time practicing to perfect his trade. He shot that basketball thousands of times against that old garage. He welded his own high jump standards and made a landing pit in the backyard at the farm. He put in the practice to perfect whatever sport it was the season for. He accomplished all of the sports accolades while having the responsibility of chores on a dairy farm in rural Smith County. Being a country kid, he loved 4-H and FFA. As a young man, Randy attended Oak Creek Christian Church south of Lebanon and Rose Valley United Methodist Church north of Downs.
After college, Randy continued his love of sports and fitness by playing town-team basketball, running Fun-Runs with a few marathons thrown in. He also enjoyed being on bowling teams in Downs and Salina, clogging and square dancing. Square dancing is where he met his wife, Dolores (Dee) Ann Smith. Randy was a smooth dancer, and you could not take your eye off that couple. Dee would sew their unique outfits and they would continue to dance until they couldn't. They enjoyed video games, traveling and exploring together. Randy also enjoyed car shows, barbeques and he was also a lifelong fan of the Dallas Cowboys.
Randy gained two sons from his marriage to Dee: Jeff and Kasey Feagin. He stepped into the role of stepdad and grandpa as a natural. To be close to their sons, Dee and Randy put together a dream of retiring to Colorado. Randy was able to retire from Geoprobe Systems at age 59 and they made their dream a reality. While in Florissant, Randy quickly became involved with local associations and made many friends. Sadly, Dee passed away in May of 2022.
Those preceding Randy in death are Dolores Ann Hayes (Smith), wife; Loyd and Verian Hayes, parents; Pearl Ryan Hayes (stepmother of 19 years); Dell and Nell Hayes, paternal grandparents; Paul and Frances Speicher, maternal grandparents; Aunt Loyce (Albert) Rotman; Aunt Loretta (Dale) Flynn.
Those left to cherish his memory are stepsons, Jeff (Alisha) Feagin and Kasey (Jason) Feagin; grandchildren, Chris Feagin and Tempa Feagin; great-granddaughter, Zimberlyn Feagin and a new great-grandson on the way, all from Colorado; sisters, Cindy (Jerry) Fassler in Lafayette, Colorado, Janice (David) Wright in Ellensburg, Washington, Lee Ann (Bryan) Shearer in Almena, Kansas; nephews, Josh, Jerrod and Jesse Fassler, Carson Wallace, Devin and Gavin Shearer; nieces, Rebecca and Robyn Wright; and five first cousins, Daryl Rotman, Jilinda Flynn, Brian Flynn, Mark Flynn, and Jeri Hanus.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, November 16, 2023, at All Faiths Funeral Chapel, 113 S. Madison St., Smith Center, Kansas.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, November 15, 2023, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. with the family receiving friends during that time.
Burial will take place in Crystal Plains cemetery, rural Smith County.
Memorials may be given to the Randell Hayes Memorial Fund and can be sent in care of the funeral chapel.

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Beloit, KS 67420, USA