John Dewight Hays

Funeral services for John D. Hays will be held at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, July 16, 2013 at Gillette Memorial Chapel with Erik Bergquist officiating. Burial will immediately follow at Mt. Pisgah Cemetery. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service.Mr. John D. Hays, age 76, of Gillette, Wyoming died Friday, July 12, 2013 at his home.John was born November 27, 1936, in Spokane, Washington, the son of John Cleo Hays and Elsie Armstrong. He graduated from High School in Spokane, Washington in 1954. On November 6, 1954, John married Frances L. Hutchinson and together they raised a family. John, an Air Force Master Sergeant and Vietnam Veteran, retired from the Air Force after 25 years of service in 1976. Later that year John and Frances, along with their four children, moved to Gillette Wyoming, where he began working for a local company, D & I Motors. Ten years later John opened his own business, Ideal Auto. John retired from Ideal Auto in early 2013. If John wasn't at the shop working, he was outdoors with his family. From camping, to fishing, to four wheeling; he loved it all. Mr. Hays is survived by daughters: Patsy Smith, and Sharon (Mark) Coleman sons: John (Lyn) Hays Jr. and Lee (Jody) Hays, all of Gillette, Wyoming; grandchildren: Michael Boles, Autumn Barnes, Cortney Casey, Whitney Oster, Ryan Poppleton, Britney Boyer and Ariel Coleman; and great-grandchildren: Brenna Kilbride, Jared Kilbride, Leah Barnes, Alex Boles, Stevie Oster, Tabin Boyer, Tove Boyer and Drew Red. He was preceded in death by his wife, mother and father and by his two brothers, Richard and Jimmy Hays.Memorials are suggested to benefit Disabled American Veterans. Memorials and condolences may be sent in John's name in care of Gillette Memorial Chapel, 210 West 5th Street, Gillette, Wyoming 82716 or condolences via the internet at www.gillettememorialchapel.com. Funeral Home:Gillette Memorial Chapel210 West Fifth Street Gillette, WYUS 82716