James Darden Hayes

James (Jim)Darden Hayes, USNR Ret., was born on April 3, 1950 in San Antonio, Texas to George Earl Hayes and Dorothy Helen Darden Hayes. Jim passed away on June 6, 2024 in Austin, Texas surrounded by his wife, Cheri and 4 children, Josh, Doug, Katie and Sarah.

Jim was a Vietnam War Veteran, who spent four years on active duty in the Navy as a Fire Control Technician, and 18 years in the Naval Reserves as a Mineman. He graduated from North Texas State University in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. After working as a Medical Technologist following graduation, Jim decided to fall back on his Navy electronics background and worked more or less in that area until he retired from an international semiconductor manufacturing company as a Senior Engineer in January of 2020. During this time, Jim was employed by 2 defense contractors, owned his own electronics repair business, and worked for an X-Ray Analyzer manufacturer. When his wife Cheri, was transferred to New Orleans in 1998, Jim worked for LSU Medical Center as an IT analyst. After moving back to Austin, he worked as an engineer for yet another X-Ray analyzer manufacturer until he retired in 2020.

Jim is survived by his wife of over 43 years, Cheryl (Cheri) Lynn Marshall, CDR, USNR, Ret. Jim and Cheri met as students at North Texas State University and were married August 23, 1980. They have two children, Catherine (Katie) Elizabeth, and her husband Richard Rigby, Sarah Michelle, and Jim’s two sons Joshua Daniel and Douglas Scott from a previous marriage. Jim is also survived by his six amazing grandchildren, Claire, Madilyn, Dean, Mason, Grayson, and Katie Rhyann. Jim is also survived by his sister, Sharon Eggenberger, and his nephews Cory, Evan, and Brett and his great niece Willa. Jim was preceded in death by his father, George Earl Hayes, CSM, US Army, ret., and his mother, Dorothy Helen Darden Hayes.

Jim was a talented and tech savvy person; he never met an appliance, vehicle, boat, computer, motorcycle, lawn mower or HVAC unit that he couldn’t fix. He actually took perfectly functioning items apart, just to see how they worked. Jim enjoyed boating, motorcycles, computers, Ford Mustangs and MG vintage cars. Jim has owned his 1969 MGC for over 50 years. He also enjoyed reading and genealogy research, which was inspired by his Aunt Mickey.

Jim was a devoted husband, Dad, Granddad, aka Grindad, brother, and uncle. He loved cooking, his specialty was BBQ, of any kind. Our fondest memories of Jim were at the lake with family and friends. He will be remembered as a noteworthy (and sometimes lengthy) storyteller, his dry sense of humor, his passion for history, teacher of tinkering and technology and steadfast and knowledgeable nature. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him.

Jim’s Funeral will be held at St. Ignatius (in Austin, Texas) on Monday, June 24, 2024 at 10:00am with a private burial following at Fort Sam Houston. Expressions of sympathy may be made in Jim’s memory to the National Genealogy Society: https://donorbox.org/donate-to-ngs

Our family is deeply grateful for the support and kindness shown by friends, family and neighbors during this incredibly difficult time.