Obituaries Archive

Obituaries » Everett "Butch" R. Hayden

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October 22, 1943 - September 24, 2020

In accordance with the current restrictions, the family wishes to have a celebration of life for Butch in the near future when his family and friends can all be together. To honor Butch’s love of nature and specifically bird and wildlife preservations, please consider gifts to his name to the Kalamazoo Audubon Society, the Kalamazoo Nature Center or a nature conservancy of your choosing, care of the funeral home.

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Our hearts are broken as we share the devastating new of our dad’s passing on September 23, 2020. Everett Raymon Hayden, known to everyone as Butch, passed away after suffering the overwhelming effects of a recent coronavirus diagnosis. Most days you would find Butch enjoying his 20-year retirement with his wife, hard at work in their beautiful gardens or tackling home projects. Whether it be electrical work, plumbing or woodworking, he was adept at any task and always willing to help out when someone needed a hand. His grandchildren were all grateful recipients of his beautiful, handmade toys, which he delighted in making and presenting. Butch was an avid nature lover, an occasional fisherman and golfer. He thoroughly enjoyed helping with his dear friend and son-in-law, Eric Jasiak, mow greens at his golf course. He adored playing with his little dog, Mac and spending part of the winter in Navarre, Florida, where he and his wife made many “snowbird” friendships. Butch was born in Muncie, Indiana on October 22, 1943, to Mary and Everett Hayden. He grew up with his sister, Marjorie in a lively and loving home on Janney Avenue, which was filled with visits from aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. He loved regaling his children and grandchildren with his many funny childhood adventures and youthful mischief. He attended Muncie Central High School and Ball State University. He served in the Indiana National Guard. Butch met his wife, Rosemary, when she was a BSU student on a spring day in 1962. They married in 1966 and became parents to three daughters, Amy and twins, Leslie and Lisa. Butch was a lifelong railroad man. Beginning his career as an engineer with the Erie Railroad in Huntington, Indiana. He later moved into management with Conrail and ended his professional life with Norfolk Southern Railway. His work necessitated moves to Kalamazoo and then Detroit, Michigan with Butch retiring from railroading back in Kalamazoo. Butch and his wife were sad to leave their many friends in Indiana, but they were proud to have maintained their long-distance relationships and lifelong connections to friends in both Michigan and Indiana. Butch was a beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend. He is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Rosemary Paoletto Hayden; daughters, Amy (George) Patramanis, Leslie Ballentine and Lisa (Eric) Jasiak; grandchildren, Abigail Jasiak, Nick Jasiak, Olivia Ballentine, Madeline Patramanis, Cecilia Patramanis and Lily Patramanis; his sister, Marjorie (Hayden) Salisbury and his many adoring nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Farrell Everett Hayden and his mother, Mary Katherine Hayden.