James Hayes

James W. Hayes, age 85, of Fairmount, Indiana, died Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at Wesleyan Health and Rehabilitation Center in Marion, Indiana.

Jim married the love of his life, Brenda (Ellingwood) Hayes, on March 20, 1993, and gained two step-children. Previously Jim had been married to Susan (Harris) Zion with whom he had two children and then Joann Yocum, with whom he had three children. The third time's a charm, and Jim and Brenda enjoyed a long and happy marriage. Jim and Brenda did almost everything together and particularly enjoyed playing in Euchre clubs, traveling to warm beaches in the Caribbean, Costa Rica and Florida, attending many sports events, concerts and car shows. Jim was a skilled Euchre player, having learned from the best of the best, his mom, Ruth Hayes. Both Jim and Brenda could easily beat their kids at Euchre even with the worst of hands and relished the wins. Jim also loved joking with his friends at morning coffee at the former Outpost Restaurant and at The Branch in Fairmount. Jim and Brenda often traveled with their close friends Bill and Janice Payne, exploring areas around Indiana. Jim was an avid reader, commonly devouring a book a day. He would read anything that was well written but preferred books about history and biographies. He and eldest daughter, Lisa, had their own private book club, reading and exchanging books and then discussing them. When youngest daughter, Jennifer, was little, she recalls that Jim would often bring her home a new book after he had been gone on business trips, feeding her lifelong love of reading. Jim also was a fan of music, enjoying various genres. Eldest son, Daniel remembers going through Jim's vinyl record collection when he was young and noticing that Jim had albums that varied from outlaw country to pop to blues. Jim had outpatient surgery once, but insisted that Brenda and second oldest daughter, Julie, go with him that same day to an outdoor concert in Fairmount, because he "could sit at home and recover or sit at the concert and recover." He was proud of youngest son's, Michael's singing voice and interest in music. He passed his love of reading and music to his children as well as his love for vigorous political debate, which they all enjoyed anytime they were altogether. Jim did not earn a college degree, but he could have matched or beaten any professor of history in a history trivia contest. Jim also taught himself to read Spanish and tutored a friend in learning English. He was always curious about learning new things, including picking up a guitar to try to learn to play. Always polite and soft-spoken, Jim had a great sense of humor that could be pointed at times. Jim was friendly and enjoyed meeting new people. He was kind and was accepting of all. He was an excellent writer and served as editor for the Grant Life Star Bank newsletter, that became wildly popular with other employees as the result of his witty commentary and satire. Jim was a member of the Fairmount Lions Club, Main Street Fairmount, and the James Dean Historical Museum, where he previously served as president. He very much relished telling folks that that he was a far-flung cousin of James Dean and that Brenda had dated James Dean (which was a bit of an exaggeration, although she attended a party where Dean was present and a photo of her with Dean hangs in the James Dean museum). Jim attended Lakeview Wesleyan Church,now the River Community Church. He graduated from Sweetser High School and attended Taylor University in Upland, Indiana. Jim was a proud United States Air Force veteran having served as an intelligence analyst during the Cuban Missile Crisis. His children often asked him to tell them what he knew about that and his cheeky response was always: "if I tell you, I'd have to kill you." Jim was proud to serve his country and talked about his experiences in the Air Force often. He retired from his position with Deluxe Corporation after 32 years as a sales representative and later served as Vice President of Grant Credit Life through Star Bank. Jim enjoyed his job with Deluxe as it afforded him the freedom to get outside of an office and meet new people.

Jim was born at home in Marion, Indiana, on October 4, 1940, to the late John C. and Ruth A. (Hoskins) Hayes, the third of three children, one having perished at birth. Jim's wife, Brenda survives him. Also surviving are his children with Susan: Lisa (Robert) Komorous McNiff and Julie Baldwin; his children with Joann: Jennifer Haynes, Daniel (Stacey) Hayes, Michael Hayes; his bonus children: Toyna (Thomas) Gardner, and Ross (Bethany) Fones; his beloved sister, Jane Gsell; grandchildren: Elizabeth Bishop, Rayna Inviere, Victor Hayes, Lila Hayes, Taylor Thomas, Morgan Gardner, Austin Gardner, Carly Fones, and Adam Thurman; cherished nephew, Bruce Thornton and niece, Amanda Bessette; and eight great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother who perished at birth, William Hayes; and his brother-in-law, John Gsell.

We would like to give a special thank you to Heartland Hospice, Wesleyan Health, Marion Health PT, Lutheran Hospital, Pastor Nowell Hardin, Dick Hart,& Jim Sonnefield.

Life Celebration Services have been entrusted to Fairmount Chapel Armes-Hunt Life

Celebration Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 415 S. Main Street, Fairmount, Indiana. A Life Celebration will be held Saturday, January 24, 2026, at 3:00 PM, with Richard Hart and Pastor James Sonnifield officiating. The family will receive friends from 1:00-3:00 PM prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to River Community Church or Main Street Fairmount.

Memories and condolences may be shared at www.armeshuntfuneralhome.com