James "Jim" Herbert Lewis Hayes

February 28, 1919 ~ October 30, 2013

The family of James Herbert Lewis “Jim” Hayes announces his peaceful passing, family by his side, in Central Okanagan Hospice House in the early hours of October 30, 2013 at the age of 94 years.

Jim is survived by his loving family: daughter Betty-Anne (Don) Cornock of Kelowna; and sons Patrick (Carol) Hayes of Duncan, BC; and Robert Hayes of Kelowna. Jim was predeceased, in the fall of 2004, by his dear wife Wilma and daughter Gaye Rush. Also surviving are seven grandchildren: loving granddaughters Jillian Cornock and Colleen Cornock of Kelowna; Shawna Rush (Brent Andrews) of Kelowna; Krystal (Dameion) Poirier of Lake Cowichan, BC; Melissa (Tavis) MacDougall of Penticton; grandsons Dylan Hayes and Adam Hayes of Duncan, BC; and six great grandchildren: Kira Ivens and Carson Ivens of Kelowna; Sandra Clark of Kelowna; Taylor Poirier and Mitchell Poirier of Lake Cowichan; and Meleigha MacDougall of Penticton. Other surviving family members are son-in-law Joseph (Donna) Rush of Kelowna, and cousins Dorothy and Ron Dennis of Fergus, Ontario. Special friends Francis and Dorothy Holmes and their children Josh and Emma have been part of Jim’s life these past years.

Jim Hayes was born at Rochester, Kent, England on February 28, 1919, the only child of Herbert Vincent Hayes (1893-1953) and Harriett Elizabeth Clarke (1894-1977). He spent his first five years in London, where his father worked for the Paddington Borough Council. Jim and his parents came to Canada in April of 1924, sailing on the SS Andania. After a brief stay in Hamilton, Ontario the Hayes family settled at Fergus, Ontario, where Jim’s dad found work in the office of Beatty Brothers Limited. Jim received all of his public education in Fergus, was very active in the local Boy Scout movement, and found summer employment in the local Beatty factory.

Jim graduated from Fergus High School Collegiate in June of 1937 and immediately started taking correspondence courses from the University of Toronto’s faculty of finance. He “signed up” with the Scots Fusiliers of Canada on October 9, 1940 and the ensuing years saw him stationed at various military locations across Canada. In 1942, Jim was sent to the Vernon Army Camp and subsequently to the Coldstream Ranch Battle Drill School. It was while attending a dance at Oyama that he met Kelowna-born Wilma Doreen Clement, only daughter of Okanagan pioneers Ernest Leslie Clement and Margaret Annie Whelan. Jim and Wilma were married at Winfield on December 23, 1943 and celebrated almost sixty-one years of married life together.

In 1944, Jim was sent overseas, where he served with two Canadian forward reinforcement battalions in France, Belgium, Holland, and Germany. He returned to British Columbia in early 1946 and worked at Winfield for a year, then moved to Rutland, where he found employment in the office of the Kelowna Growers Exchange packinghouse. In 1953, Jim was hired as the clerk for the Municipality of Glenmore. When Glenmore became part of the City of Kelowna, in September of 1960, Jim’s employment continued with the City, where he worked at a number of positions. When Jim retired in 1984, he was the Assistant City Clerk, having logged more than thirty years of combined administration service with Glenmore and the City of Kelowna.

The military played an important role in Jim Hayes’ long life. In 1951, five years after his discharge from the Canadian Army, Jim joined the British Columbia Dragoons, “The Okanagan’s Own Regiment”, serving as paymaster. He eventually rose to the rank of major and served several years as the Second in Command of the regiment, before his retirement in 1971. For many years, Jim was a member of Royal Canadian Legion Branch 26 (Kelowna) and on June 22, 2013 he was the proud recipient of his 65 year pin as a member of that Legion branch.

In early 2006, following Wilma’s death, Jim moved into the Dorchester Residence in Kelowna. He lived almost eight years there and enjoyed this part of his long life. Jim’s friendships with Dorchester residents Ed Buchner and the late Reg Lawrence were very special to him. Thursday afternoon’s weekly “Happy Hour” was one of Jim’s favourite Dorchester events, where he enjoyed a glass of Scotch, and made special musical requests of guest entertainers. Regular “scenic outings” on the Dorchester bus were other highlights of Jim’s years at the Dorchester.

Jim’s family and friends in Kelowna, including their pets, were very important to him, and he enjoyed frequently getting together with them, to celebrate special occasions and events. He eagerly anticipated, and often talked about, his trips with them to the wonderful “Christmas Light-up” at Leavenworth, Washington.

In recent years, Jim joined the congregation of the Cathedral Church of St. Michael and All Angels, in Kelowna. He attended services with Betty-Anne and Don and especially enjoyed the musical component of these services.

Jim had a true social conscience, and he was a generous supporter of charities, social, and environmental programs, a trait which he instilled in his family.

Jim’s varied interests included studying local and military history, collecting small antiques, political discussions, and watching British television programmes on Friday and Saturday nights.

Jim Hayes’ family extends sincere appreciation to the thoughtful and caring staffs of the Dorchester Residence and Kelowna General Hospital, and the staff and volunteers at Central Okanagan Hospice House, for their kindness and support offered to him. A Memorial Service will be held at the Cathedral Church of St. Michael and All Angels, 608 Sutherland Avenue, Kelowna on Monday, November 18, 2013 at 11:00 am, a reception to follow in the Tinker Room. In lieu of flowers, donations in Jim Hayes’ memory to the Junior Diabetes Research Foundation, the Alzheimer Society of BC, or the Kelowna SPCA would be appreciated.

Arrangements are under the direction of Valleyview Funeral Home, 165 Valleyview Road, Kelowna, BC. 250-765-3147

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.valleyviewfuneralhome.com.