A graveside service is 10 a.m. Saturday at Genoa Cemetery for retired China Spring youth counselor and decorated Vietnam veteran Daniel Travis Hayes, 58, who died at his Gardnerville home on Sept. 3, 2008.
Born Jan. 31, 1950, in Santa Ana, Calif., to James Travis and Wanda Jean Hayes, he served in Vietnam with the U.S. Army's 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Squadron. While serving he received a Bronze Star with valor and two Purple Hearts. He received 100-percent disability after he was exposed to Agent Orange.
He married Julie Beasley Feb. 19, 1977, in Benton, Calif.
He attended college and the Utah Police Academy. He worked as a police officer, firefighter and emergency medical technician for 10 years before becoming a youth counselor at China Spring Youth Camp in 1990.
Mr. Hayes enjoyed scuba diving in the Caribbean, Florida and Mexico. He loved deep-sea fishing and catching his marlin.
He is preceded in death by his father, James Travis Hayes, who died at his Gardnerville home in 1996.
He is survived by wife Julie; mother Wanda Jean Hayes of Gardnerville; sons Travis and Kevin Hayes of Gardnerville; daughter Destiny Hayes of Gardnerville; brothers and sisters-in-law Dick and Pat Hayes of Elk Grove, Calif., and Bob and Debbie Payne of Carson City; sisters and brothers-in-law Dixie and Glenn Hoffman of Lake Forest, Calif., Debra and Scott Prilliman of Murrieta, Calif., Deanna and Gabe Magalogo of South Jordan, Utah, Dan and Jenny Beasley of Needles, Calif., and Delbert Beasley of Gardnerville; two grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles.
A reception will follow the graveside service at the Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints, 891 Mahogany, behind the Carson Valley Swim Center in Minden.
Donations may be made to the Daniel T. Hayes memorial fund, located at Greater Nevada Credit Union.
Mrs. Hayes thanked members of the LDS Church for their help. FitzHenry's Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
