Russell J. "Russ" Hayes

Russell J. 'Russ' Hayes lived in Westford, Delta Air Lines retiree, vet FLORENCE, AZ Russell James "Russ" Hayes, of Florence, AZ, died May 24, 2008, following a long illness. He was the husband of Joan (O'Hara) Hayes, formerly of Lowell, MA. He was born in Lowell, MA, the son of the late Mark and Esther (Cuddy) Hayes of Westford, MA. He was a graduate of Westford Academy, and East Coast Aerotech. Mr. Hayes was a veteran of the U.S. Army, where he piloted rotary and fixed-wing aircraft. Following his service in the Army, he began a career in the airline industry as a pilot with several carriers, retiring as a captain with Delta Air Lines, Inc. He enjoyed flying and maintaining his own aircraft for many years when he lived in Colorado. He was also an avid hunter, and fishermen. Besides his wife, he is survived by his two sons, Kevin of Apache Junction, AZ, and Douglas, of Brighton, CO; two daughters, Carolyn, of Boring, OR, and Anita, of Florence, AZ; a brother, Warren Hayes of Merrimack, NH; two sisters, Mary Trubey of Westford, MA, and Rita Gallagher of Chelmsford, MA; and 11 grandchildren. His funeral Mass was celebrated at the Assumption Catholic Church, and burial was in Florence Cemetery.