Kenneth Hayes, 84

Kenneth Dean Hayes died at home Sunday, Jan. 2, 2011. He was born in Toledo, Ore., on July 31, 1926, to Herbert and Lydia Hayes.

Kenny was raised in Newport, Ore. After the death of his father, at age 13 Kenny quit school and took a truck driving job to support his family. Kenny joined the U.S. Army and served in WWII.

After the military he worked at a lumber camp running a "donkey." While logging he met his wife, Doris Kiefer, the camp cook. They married in 1950 and lived in Newport where they raised two children, Bob and Linda. While working as a logger, Ken topped trees, felled trees and was known to be a skilled heavy equipment operator. He left logging and took a job with Georgia Pacific as a truck driver, where he worked for the next 30 years. Upon retirement, Kenny and Doris moved to Rathdrum. He built a new home on the site of the old Kiefer family home where they resided until their deaths.

Kenny served on the Rathdrum City Council from 2006-2009. His goal was to improve the city by adding sidewalks, beautifying the roadside, and adding the entrance sign at the city limits. All of these goals were met. He also served on the Rathdrum Senior Citizen board.

He is survived by his son, Bob Hayes and wife Terry; granddaughters, Lauren and Elizabeth of Bellingham, Wash.; daughter Linda Hayes of Dundee, Ore., and her two sons, Jack McPike of Athol and Sean McPike of Sherwood, Ore.; his sister, Ruth Thompson of Albany, Ore.; his two great-grandchildren, Ryann and Austin McPike of Athol; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews who loved spending time with their Uncle Kenny.

Kenny enjoyed fishing and traveling and in the last years of his life spent a lot of time with his companion, Shirley Young. He was always there to help others when in need. He will be greatly missed by all of his family and the many friends he made over his 84 years.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 7, 2011, at Yates Funeral Home, Coeur d'Alene Chapel. A reception will follow at the Golden Spike in Rathdrum.

Please visit Kenny's memorial and sign his online guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.