Thomas William Hayes, Jr.

Thomas William Hayes, Jr., 80, passed away peacefully on April 15, 2025. Tom was born March 5, 1945, to Thomas William Hayes and Viola (Hannon). He graduated from Nampa High School in 1963 and married Susan Stephenson in 1967. The newlyweds moved to Ontario, OR, where they attended TVCC.  In 1968, they moved to Union County for the first time to attend Eastern Oregon State College, obtaining undergraduate degrees in teacher education in 1970. Tom later received a Master’s in Education from EOSC.

Mr. Hayes, as many knew him, briefly moved to teach in Klamath Falls, OR.  They returned to Union to teach in 1972. Tom spent over three decades teaching, coaching, and raising a family in the town where he called many colleagues, friends, and students “family.” Tom and Susan retired to her family’s farm in Walla Walla, WA, in 2006.

Tom will be remembered for his boundless generosity, compassionate if blunt spirit, infectious sense of humor, and the way he could capture the group’s attention by telling a story that one and all could equate to. His love for his wife and children was a cornerstone of his life, as was his teaching and coaching at Union High School.

Tom dedicated himself to guiding and supporting students studying Speech and English in the classroom; he coached football, basketball, track & field, and especially cross country. The lessons he brought to the desk, to the field, on a court, or in a race reached beyond fundamentals and were for some an exposure to the world beyond the ‘bubble’ they lived in. The gift of being able to make all the young adults around him feel they were important and valuable to the team was the essence of Mr. Hayes. He reminded us all that we were to help and coach up those around us, as we would succeed more as a team when we behaved that way.

He is survived by his loving wife, Susan, and his children, Thomas “TE” (Holly), Jack (Michelle) and Mary (Jeff) and grandchildren Alyssa, Thomas, Tobin, Nicholas and Foster, as well as siblings Connie (Don), Sheila, Gary (Val), Ron (Lorie), Linda and numerous nieces and nephews and their families, and Jane Cauvel. Tom will be deeply missed by his family, friends, colleagues, and all who had the privilege of knowing him.

Tom’s life will be celebrated on Saturday, June 14, 2025, at 11:00 AM, at Union High School (UHS Gym) in Union, OR. Consider dressing casually in Bobcat or running gear. The family will be available to visit from 9:30 AM until the start of the Celebration of Life. All are welcome to join in honoring his memory and sharing the laughter and stories he so freely shared. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Union High School Bobcat Foundation (Bobcat Foundation Dollars for Scholars, PO Box 91, Union, OR 97883, or visit www.bobcatfdn.dollarsforscholars.org).

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home. Friends and family are invited to sign the online guestbook at www.herringgroseclose.com.