Thomas H. Hayes

Thomas Harrison Hayes, 78, died of natural causes Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2015, at the Village Health Care Center.

Tom was born June 16, 1936, to George and Dagny Hayes in Libby. In 1948, the family moved to Scobey, where Tom graduated from Scobey High School. He attended both the University of Montana in Missoula and Montana State University in Bozeman, receiving degrees from each. Tom married Arlene Stahl in Missoula on Jan. 10, 1959. They later divorced.

Tom began his working career in Wolf Point, where he was a history teacher and assistant principal until 1965. He then moved to Bozeman, where he served as the assistant dean of men at Montana State University until 1969. His last move was back to Missoula, where he worked until his retirement as the director of Housing and Food Service at the University of Montana. After his retirement he pursued his artistic passion as a silversmith.

Tom often spoke of his fond memories hiking, camping and fishing with his son in the Bitterroots. Tom was quite the character and loved recounting a vast treasure of the stories of his life. His family and friends will miss hearing them.

Tom was preceded in death by his mother, Dagny in 1993; father, George in 2005; and his only sister, Norma Adams in 2006. He is survived by his son, Tom (JoAnn) Hayes of Missoula; an uncle, John Hayes of Plummer, Idaho; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

No services will be held, at his request. A private celebration of his life will take place at a later date.


Read Thomas Hayes's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.