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Dennis L. "Dinny" Hayes was born May 1, 1939, in Hayden to William Clayborn and Lily Dora (Doyle) Hayes. He was raised and attended school in Hayden. After high school, Hayes entered the U.S. Navy and served for four years.

Hayes married Gretchen Springer on Feb. 22, 1964, in Hayden. For five years, they lived in Seattle, where Hayes worked for Boeing Aircraft and attended aircraft mechanic school and worked on the flight line for the company. While in Seattle, the couple's two children, Lori and Shawn, were born. They returned to Colorado and lived across Routt County including in Oak Creek, Fish Creek, Trout Creek, Middle Creek and Hayden. Hayes initially worked as a roustabout for Texaco and then worked as a heavy equipment operator at the Edna Coal Mine near Oak Creek. He retired after 26 years of service.

Hayes was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, the Oak Creek Masonic Lodge, United Mine Workers of America and the Hayden Congregational Church. Hayes was baptized seven years ago in the Yampa River near Hayden. He enjoyed snowmobiling, hunting and fishing. Hayes was very fond of his children and grandchildren and enjoyed spending as much time with them as he could.

Hayes died Tuesday, March 7, 2006, at the Doak Walker Care Center in Steamboat Springs, where he had resided for three years.

He is survived by his wife, Gretchen Hayes, of Hayden; daughters Lori (Pie) Lombardi of Oak Creek, and Karla Campbell of Oakland, Calif; son, Shawn (Stacy) Hayes of Oak Creek; grandchildren, Toni, Tatum and Pie Lombardi and Warren and Hannah Hayes; sister, Kathaleen Frazier; brothers, Bill (Bessie) Hayes of Craig, Larry (Marilyn) Hayes of Mesa, Jay (Dottie) Hayes of Hayden, Mickey (Wilma) Hayes of Hayden, and John (Judy) Hayes of Wheatland, Wyo.; and mother-in-law, Dorothy Carmen Springer of Hayden.

He is preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Sylvia, Marguerite and Colleen; brothers, Howard, Warren and Calvin; and infant brothers, James and Myron.

A funeral for Hayes was Sunday, March 12, 2006, at the Hayden Congregational Church. Mervin Johnson officiated. Interment followed in the Hayden Cemetery.