James William “Jim” Hayes, 80, of Henry, died Monday, November 28, 2022, at his residence.
Born Thursday, December 25, Christmas Day, 1941, in Humboldt, Tennessee, he was the son of the late James Rufus “J. R.” Hayes and the late Mildred Lee McGraw Hayes. Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers: Jack Hays, and Lynn Hayes.
Jim was the President of the JR Hayes Construction Company in Paris. He spent 32 years on the Paris Municipal Regional Planning Commission, where he also served as chairman. He also was a member of the Tennessee Road Builders Association. Jim was a 50-year member of Trinity United Methodist Church, where he served on the committee for two building projects: the addition of Sunday school rooms to the existing fellowship hall in 1980, and the rebuilding of the church after a fire in 2015.
He enjoyed collecting classic cars and eventually bought and restored a 1960 Plymouth Fury, just like the one his parents gave him when he graduated high school. He received a degree in Biology and Math in 1964 from Bethel College, where he was set up on a blind date with Roslynn Matlock . Jim devoted his life to his work, his community, and his family.
Jim married Roslynn Matlock Hayes April 7, 1963, and they would have been celebrating their 60th anniversary this coming April.
Along with his wife, survivors include his four children: Tonya (David) Nash, Kayla (Keith) Nation, Kendra (Jason) McCuistion, all of Paris; and Brian (Debbie) Hayes, of Benton, Kentucky; a sister: Leisa Wimberley, of Paris; a brother: Jerry (Debbie) Hayes, of Henry; three sister-in-laws: Bettie Hays, of McKenzie, Susan Hayes, of Henry, and Ronda Buck, of Memphis; eleven grandchildren: Brandon (Sammi) Hayes, Kelsey (Matthew) Hayes Hudson, Jonathan Nash, Laura (Trevor) Nash Cloar, Kaylyn (Zach) Nation Adkins, Kathryn Nation, Kolby Nation, Will McCuistion, Drew McCuistion, Ben McCuistion, and Charlotte McCuistion.
Jim was also excited about the upcoming arrival of his first great-grandchild (baby boy Adkins) in April 2023.
Special survivors include his dog: Minnie and Henry.
Ridgeway Funeral Home 201 Dunlap St./ P.O. Box 788, Paris, Tennessee, 38242, will be handling the arrangements. Visitation will be held Tuesday, November 29, 2022, at Trinity United Methodist Church, 409 N. Wilson St., Paris, Tennessee, 38242, from 4 until 7 p.m. and continue Wednesday, November 30, 2022, at the church after 10 a.m. until the time of the service at 11 a.m. The funeral service will be held Wednesday, November 30, 2022, at Trinity United Methodist Church at 11 a.m. with Pastors Emily Walker and Keith Nation officiating.
Jim’s grandsons and grandsons-in-law will serve as pallbearers. Employees of the former JR Hayes Construction Co. have been named as honorary pallbearers.
Burial will follow in Memorial Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Trinity United Methodist Church, 409 N. Wilson St., Paris, TN 38242.
At the request of the family, the service will be livestreamed on Trinity United Methodist Church’s Facebook Page.