A combined memorial service for Dick and his wife Margaret will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, October 23rd in the funeral home. The family will receive friends from noon until 2 p.m. Burial will follow in the New Oakhill Cemetery, Plymouth.
Cecil Richard “Dick” Hayden, 84, a resident of Plymouth since August, 1967, died after a brief battle with cancer on Friday, August 19, 2011, at 3:10 p.m. in Pilgrim Manor, Plymouth. Known as both C.R. and Dick, he was born in Lowell, Indiana on December 29, 1926, the son of Fred V. and Marian J. (Nelson) Hayden.
An active athlete in many sports, primarily football, he graduated from Lowell District High School with the class of 1944. Shortly afterwards, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps and served for two years receiving an Honorable Discharge in 1947.
Dick and Margaret G. Sirois were married at her home in Shelby, Ind.on June 6, 1948. Dick went to both Purdue, where he played football and Ball State University to get a teaching degree.
Dick was a consummate salesman. For years, he made a career traveling over Northern Indiana and Illinois, mapping his journey from Standard Oil filling station to filling station. He was friends with all of the operators and farmers in his territory.
Dick’s employment kept the family moving regularly with stops in Marion, Ft. Wayne, Gas City, Indiana and Morton, Illinois before settling for good in Plymouth in 1967.
After retiring from Standard Oil he worked as a national accounts manager for Young Door in Plymouth, moving to a home on South Michigan St. His activities were varied. He loved to cut wood and spent countless hours improving his farm property on Muckshaw Road. He played a lot of golf in his younger years. He collected all kinds of memorabilia and enjoyed attending farm auctions. He was an avid animal lover. The Hayden House was never without a dog or a cat.
He and Margaret attended high school reunion meetings in Lake County. He kept in constant contact over the years with his fellow classmates with phone calls and hand written letters. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge in Plymouth and helped to found the Optimist Club, the Toastmasters Club and the Plymouth Junior Football League. As a resident of Gas City, IN, in the early 1960’s C.R. helped to establish the first community youth basketball program. In 1973 Dick was instrumental in forming the Big Blue Booster Club at Greensburg High School in southeastern Indiana. His son Kimbel was a long time high school coach and current teacher in Greensburg. Plymouth’s Big Red Boosters were the template for the Greensburg Community.
He was a member of the Retired Teachers of Indiana. He enjoyed golf, but mostly, he was devoted to his wife and their three sons.
He is survived by Margaret, his wife of 63 years and by their sons: Richard
Kimbel (Connie) of Greensburg, Ind., Timothy Michael (Nancy) of Plymouth, and Marc V. (Diane) of Plymouth.
They have seven grandchildren: Kim’s children are Brandon and Patrick with Great-Grandsons Austin, Arison, Andon and Great-Granddaughter Alexandria belonging to Patrick. Michael’s children are Kara Conerty and Kyle Hayden, Indianapolis and Great-Granddaughters Emma and Kate belonging to Kyle and Great-Grandson Evan belonging to Kara, Marc’s three children are Danielle, Zachary and Vincent Hayden.
Dick was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, F. Reid Hayden.
Memorial gifts may be given to the Center for Hospice Care, 112 S. Center St., Plymouth, IN 46563
Marsha Duncan says
Marc-
My thoughts are with you in the passing of your dad. I will miss that big tease.
My love to you, your mom and brothers, and all your families. Know you are all in my prayers.
Thinking of you-
Marsha
Gene Reese says
I am so sorry to hear about your loss. Although I did not know Mr. Hayden, I know his son Marc. What a great person, Marc has been in our athletic department at Ancilla College. A man of values, a hard worker and a person always willing to help other individuals in need. I know Mr. Hayden would be proud and it also tells me a lot about Mr. Hayden. I have been and will continue to pray for your family!
Nena M Haskins says
Dear Marc and Family
I am so very sorry for your loss, keeping you in my heart and in my prayers during your time of greif.
Sincerely,
Nena
AC Bookstore
Tom Nunley says
You are all in our hearts and Prayers C.R. was an amazing man and touched our lives.
Tom & Teresa Nunley
marie albertson says
Marc and family, I was sorrry to read about the passing of your father. He and I had a mail-friendship the last few years of his life. I always enjoyed his visits to the Plymouth Library when I was working there. He was interested in many subjects, including poetry, which came as somewhat of a surprise, but he always kept me on my librarian toes seeking out informationn on his latest quest of knowledge. My thoughts are with you.
Phil Greenlee says
Hayden Family:
Dad passed away about a month ago and I just want let you know that even though we will miss our Dads, they will always be close to us in our hearts.
Just remember the good times and gloss over the bad times.
Both our fathers were one of a kind.
God Bless you all
Phil Greenlee
Shirley A. Gidley says
Such a sunny man. We so enjoyed talking and kidding one another. He was a delight to know.
Chuck & Marilee Johnson says
Mrs. Hayden, Marc and The Whole Hayden Family!
Our sincere Sympathy to each one of you! Mr. Hayden was a wonderful man and we are so glad to have had the pleasure of knowing him. Plus, many of his family members! You are a wonderful family!
Sincerely,
Chuck and Marilee Johnson
Dave Wickey says
Marc and family,
I\’m saddened to hear of your loss. Please know you are all in my thoughts and prayers in your time of pain and grief. Losing such a wonderful man is a loss we all feel, but know he is in a better place now.
Roberta Hayden-Crepeau says
I am very sorry for the loss of your DAD & Grandpa. It is never easy letting go of such wonderful people in our lives, especially when they are so great like Dick was. I remember stopping in on Dick & Margie in Plymouth when staying with my parents (Bob & Ethel Hayden) in Rochester while traveling frequently to the cancer center with my dad. Your folks were ALWAYS smiling, laughing and boy the exciting stories Dick (brother Dick as my Dad called him) would tell. So full of fun as he expressed his love for life! He shared his \”HomeMade Peppermint Ice Cream\” recipe with me. What fun we have with it still today. It was always a pleasure to visit them. My prayers are with you for peace, comfort and great memories at this sad time, Roberta (Hayden) Crepeau
Douglas G Henry says
Coach Hayden,
Sorry to read about the death of your Father. I remember meeting him when the Big Blue Booster Club started. You were a great coach and teacher so I know your Father had to be a great man and this is a large loss to many!!! Your family in in my thoughts and prayers.!! May GOD bless!!!!!
Doug Henry
GCHS Class of \’76
William E. Deeter says
The Hayden family,
The Deeter family shares the loss of your wonderful father,grandfather, uncle and all around great man. Dick was our neighbor for 14 years and was the best neighbor anyone could ever have. He was always willing to share his advice and experiences and his helpfulness to his friends and neighbors was so appreciated. Dick was so young at heart and interested in so many things that he was a great example for others to emulate. I cannot express all of the wonderful qualities that he embodied as there is not enough space or time to list them all. Suffice it to say that Dick was the embodiment of a caring, wise and decent human being. Dick will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
Jeffrey Gorball says
I am very sorry for the lose of your parents. Our thoughts and Prayers to your family. May God bless and be with your family through this difficult time.
Marsha Duncan says
Marc-
My thoughts are with you in the passing of your dad. I will miss that big tease.
My love to you, your mom and brothers, and all your families. Know you are all in my prayers.
Thinking of you-
Marsha
Gene Reese says
I am so sorry to hear about your loss. Although I did not know Mr. Hayden, I know his son Marc. What a great person, Marc has been in our athletic department at Ancilla College. A man of values, a hard worker and a person always willing to help other individuals in need. I know Mr. Hayden would be proud and it also tells me a lot about Mr. Hayden. I have been and will continue to pray for your family!
Nena M Haskins says
Dear Marc and Family
I am so very sorry for your loss, keeping you in my heart and in my prayers during your time of greif.
Sincerely,
Nena
AC Bookstore
Tom Nunley says
You are all in our hearts and Prayers C.R. was an amazing man and touched our lives.
Tom & Teresa Nunley
marie albertson says
Marc and family, I was sorrry to read about the passing of your father. He and I had a mail-friendship the last few years of his life. I always enjoyed his visits to the Plymouth Library when I was working there. He was interested in many subjects, including poetry, which came as somewhat of a surprise, but he always kept me on my librarian toes seeking out informationn on his latest quest of knowledge. My thoughts are with you.
Phil Greenlee says
Hayden Family:
Dad passed away about a month ago and I just want let you know that even though we will miss our Dads, they will always be close to us in our hearts.
Just remember the good times and gloss over the bad times.
Both our fathers were one of a kind.
God Bless you all
Phil Greenlee
Shirley A. Gidley says
Such a sunny man. We so enjoyed talking and kidding one another. He was a delight to know.
Chuck & Marilee Johnson says
Mrs. Hayden, Marc and The Whole Hayden Family!
Our sincere Sympathy to each one of you! Mr. Hayden was a wonderful man and we are so glad to have had the pleasure of knowing him. Plus, many of his family members! You are a wonderful family!
Sincerely,
Chuck and Marilee Johnson
Dave Wickey says
Marc and family,
I\’m saddened to hear of your loss. Please know you are all in my thoughts and prayers in your time of pain and grief. Losing such a wonderful man is a loss we all feel, but know he is in a better place now.
Roberta Hayden-Crepeau says
I am very sorry for the loss of your DAD & Grandpa. It is never easy letting go of such wonderful people in our lives, especially when they are so great like Dick was. I remember stopping in on Dick & Margie in Plymouth when staying with my parents (Bob & Ethel Hayden) in Rochester while traveling frequently to the cancer center with my dad. Your folks were ALWAYS smiling, laughing and boy the exciting stories Dick (brother Dick as my Dad called him) would tell. So full of fun as he expressed his love for life! He shared his \”HomeMade Peppermint Ice Cream\” recipe with me. What fun we have with it still today. It was always a pleasure to visit them. My prayers are with you for peace, comfort and great memories at this sad time, Roberta (Hayden) Crepeau
Douglas G Henry says
Coach Hayden,
Sorry to read about the death of your Father. I remember meeting him when the Big Blue Booster Club started. You were a great coach and teacher so I know your Father had to be a great man and this is a large loss to many!!! Your family in in my thoughts and prayers.!! May GOD bless!!!!!
Doug Henry
GCHS Class of \’76
William E. Deeter says
The Hayden family,
The Deeter family shares the loss of your wonderful father,grandfather, uncle and all around great man. Dick was our neighbor for 14 years and was the best neighbor anyone could ever have. He was always willing to share his advice and experiences and his helpfulness to his friends and neighbors was so appreciated. Dick was so young at heart and interested in so many things that he was a great example for others to emulate. I cannot express all of the wonderful qualities that he embodied as there is not enough space or time to list them all. Suffice it to say that Dick was the embodiment of a caring, wise and decent human being. Dick will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
Jeffrey Gorball says
I am very sorry for the lose of your parents. Our thoughts and Prayers to your family. May God bless and be with your family through this difficult time.