Reed Bush Hayes

Reed Bush Hayes; 84, of the Ririe and Rigby, Idaho area, died Thursday, May 13, 2004 in Idaho Falls at the home of his son JR following an extended illness. He was born November 21, 1919 at Ririe, Idaho to Isaac G and Minnie Bush Hayes. He was a life long resident of the area. He attended schools in Richmond, Utah, Arimo, Downey and Ririe, Idaho. He married Helen V. Durrant on November 20, 1940 in the Logan LDS Temple. He built a four bedroom basement home outside of Ririe for his family. They raised their family in the Ririe area from 1941 to 1974. Then Reed and his oldest son JR added an upstairs in 1958. In 1974 they moved to Ririe to a new home north of the city park, and in 1992 after all the children had grown they moved to five mile corner west of Rigby. They have spent many hours planting numerous trees, brushes, grass and garden. Their home now resembles a natural little park instead of the former hay field. He was a veteran of WWII where he drove tanks in the European Theatre under General Patton. Reed joined the VFW in 1946 and was a life member of Post 1004 and for 60 years performed and helped at funerals, cemetery programs, Veterans Day programs and at local schools. He served as Post Commander twice, was quartermaster for thirteen years and served in many district positions. He also joined the American Legion in 1985 and served as their commander as well. Within the last few years he has helped JR with several building projects. His green thumb extended to his elbow and seems even his spit is potent enough to grow apples seeds in the flower garden into trees. He drove a milk truck for Kraft Food for five years on the Rigby, Grant, Garfield, Roberts and Lewisville Route. He worked in the Kraft Cheese Factory in Ririe. He worked on the Palisades Dam as a heavy equipment operator, and at the INEEL/NRF as a warehouseman for the Firestall Flattop Carier at SIW. He worked on the Ririe Dam, Teton, Dam, the highway from Virginia City to the Utah line, the Portuef Riverway and the American Falls Dam. He then returned to the INEEL as a warehouseman for Electric Boat while S5G was built. He retired February 28, 1980. Reed and Helen have donated thousands of hours working for and in the City of Ririe cleaning alleyways, spraying weeds, mowing lawns and changing sprinkler pipe. The little park just off the old highway into Ririe is dedicated to Reed and Helen. They also worked many hours in support of the Ririe Senior Citizens group and delivering meals to home bound folks. Survivors include his wife Helen Hayes of Ririe/Rigby, Idaho. His children, JR (Karen) Hayes of Idaho Falls, Idaho, MarJean Campbell of Idaho Falls, Idaho, Renetia (Craig) Nielsen of Idaho Falls, Idaho, FarrDell (Loa)Hayes of Ririe, Idaho, Dee Fred Hayes of Idaho Falls, Idaho and Karl William (Mardi) Hayes of Idaho Falls, Idaho. 38 grandchildren, 57 great grandchildren and 6 great great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers and one sister. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, May 18, 2004 in Ririe, Idaho at the Perry Ward LDS Chapel at 11:00 a.m. The family will meet with friends on Monday, May 17, 2004 from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. at Eckersell Memorial Chapel and on Tuesday, May 18, 2004 from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. at the Perry Ward LDS Chapel. Burial will be in the Ririe-Shelton Cemetery under the direction of Eckersell Funeral Home.