Obituary

John Milton Hayes passed away on July 30, 2024, heeding the call for an extra man to fill another square in “Square Dance Heaven”. He was born on January 16,1937 at Memorial Hospital in Sedro Woolley, WA to John Spencer Hayes and Irene Margaret (Baller) Hayes. He was raised in Acme along with his two sisters, Gloria (1938) and Bonnie (1944), and brother Robert (1947)

John enjoyed deer hunting with his dad every year from 1948 until his dad passed away in September 1982. He also enjoyed lake and stream trout fishing and steelhead fishing with his dad for many of those years.

John graduated from Mt. Baker High School in 1955 where he was student body president and class salutatorian. John entered the University of Washington in the fall of 1955, graduating in June 1959 with a B.S. in Civil Engineering. He accepted a position with the Department of Highways, later called the Department of Transportation, after graduation. After six months with the National Guard at Fort Irwin, CA he returned to Seattle in 1960, accepting a position preparing plans at the district office for the Department of Highways on Corson Avenue in Seattle.

John met Mary Ellen Aasen at work in 1961, and they were married in Seattle on March 11, 1962. They purchased a new house on Rose Hill near Kirkland in 1963. They had two daughters, Kathi Ann born 1963 and Kristi Marie born 1966.

He was promoted to project engineer in August 1965 after obtaining his professional engineering license that summer. His first field office was in Kirkland. John was asked if he was interested in moving to Mount Vernon in March 1975 as the project engineer. In May they purchased a new home in Mount Vernon and moved the family in June. He supervised the Mount Vernon office and a satellite office in Bellingham for over 18 years. John retired as the Assistant Regional Construction Engineer in Shoreline on April 1, 1995, after 35 years with the department. John enjoyed his work and his fine crew.

He took square dance lessons in the fall of 1985 and after six years of single life, John married Rose Marie (Mattson) Clemetson on February 14, 1991, in Reno, NV. This was after meeting her at a square dance two years earlier.

John was active with his class reunion committee in addition to serving as the chairman for the Mt. Baker 51+ Alumni Reunion group. He enjoyed his Acme Elementary school classmates breakfast each month through July 2024.

He was active in the local Skagit Valley Genealogical society, Mt, Baker Singles Square Dance Club and Skagit Squares for many years. John continued square dancing up to the time of his passing.
He was an avid sports fan and supported the Washington Huskies football team as a season ticket holder for many years. He was also a big fan of the local sports teams, the Seahawks, Mariners and the Super Sonics.

John is survived by his wife Rosie, his sisters Gloria (James Beach) and Bonnie Olson, brother Robert Hayes (Dorthy) two daughters Kathi (John Hicks) and Kristi Hayes Lindquist (Jeff North) and three grandchildren, Michael Hicks, Michelle Rorie (Alec) and Nicole Larsen, and two great grandchildren, Oliver and Rae Ann along with many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers donations can be sent to Mt Baker scholarship fund.

Mount Baker Scholarship Foundation, PO Box 875, Deming WA 98244