Everell G Hayes

  Noted events in his life were:

• Obituary: Neptune Society Post, Aug 2022. Everell G Hayes
JANUARY 29, 1948 – AUGUST 13, 2022

Everell Garrett ‘Butch’ Hayes passed away peacefully surrounded by his family at his home Friday, August 13, 2022 after a valiant fight against cancer. Everell was born January 29, 1948 in Peoria, Illinois and adopted by Everrell Alfred and Elizabeth Kathryn Hayes. He spent his childhood and teenage years in Kankakee, Illinois where he attended Limestone Grade School and Herscher High School. During those years, Everell and his dear horse, Willie worked and played on the farm and participated in 4H and FFA. Upon the untimely death of his parents in 1964, Everell was lovingly taken in by the West family of Bonfield, Illinois. After graduating high school in 1965, Everell began studies at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign College of Agriculture, but was soon drafted into the U.S. Army and deployed to Vietnam. He served proudly until his return stateside in June, 1969.

In early spring, 1970, Everell was offered a job in the Eldorado National Forest, South Lake Tahoe, California and headed out west - thus beginning his long adventurous career with the U.S. federal government. He resumed his studies as UIUC and continued to work summers 1971-1973 as a Wilderness Ranger in the Desolation Valley Wilderness area of Lake Tahoe. He loved every minute of that work! In June 1974, Everell graduated from UIUC with a Masters of Science Degree in Forestry. He then accepted a job from the US Department of Interior, Bureau of Land Management Folsom District Office as a Surface Protection Specialist, where he would be responsible for federal lands in 26 counties in California’s “Mother Lode”. It was during his time in Folsom that Everell met and married his wife, Carolann. They later had their daughter, Lauren in 1980.

From there, the BLM took the Hayes family through several moves and positions, including Washington DC, Needles, CA and finally, Reno, NV. Everell moved to the Division of Fire and Aviation Management as Deputy State Fire Management Officer where he remained until his retirement in 2010. Everell loved this work and described it often as both demanding and exciting. In addition, Everell passionately worked on National initiatives and programs. He progressed in the area of Logistics eventually attaining the rating of Area Command Logistics Chief, the highest in the field. Everell was assigned as Logistics Section Chief to fires in every western state as well as Hawaii, Canada, and Australia. He also proudly served as Area Command Logistics Chief for Hurricanes Katrina, Ivan, Rita and other natural disasters. Where Everell was concerned, the word “retirement” was always in quotes, as he never stayed down for long. He continued to work as a Logistics consultant and Area Command Instructor for the U.S. Coast Guard, Executive Director of the Nevada Fire Safe Council, and Instructor in Incident Command for Truckee Meadows Community College mentoring others right up until a few months before his passing. Everell was one of the lucky people in this world who truly loved their work and that love lasted through his life. Everell was also a military history expert - one of the greatest honors of his life was serving as a liaison guide at the 75th anniversary of D Day in Normandy in 2019.

Ever the farmer at heart, Everell took great pride in cultivating a bountiful garden at home. Some of daughter Lauren’s happiest memories are of tending to the garden with him as well as visiting his farm in Illinois on Limestone Road and dear family and friends there.

Everell was blessed to have many friends, all of whom he considered family. Maintaining these relationships over the years brought him so much joy. He was a wonderful father and treated Lauren’s friends as his own children. He was an only child, and loved being part of Carol’s Italian family with two brothers, three sisters, and later, six nieces and nephews. On his 70th birthday, with the help of 23 and me, Everell discovered he had long lost half sisters and brothers whom he cherished getting to know.

Everell is survived by his wife, Carolann Hayes, daughter, Lauren Elizabeth Hayes, Goddaughter Tammy (West) Anderson, and honorary daughter Danielle Stage Kertzman.

The family wishes to thank the dedicated staff of the Reno VA Hospital for their excellent comprehensive care throughout Everell’s illness as well as the staff of Eden Hospice and First Light Home Care for the kind and loving support they provided to Everell and his family.

According to his wishes, Everell will ultimately be laid to rest in his beloved Illinois this coming Spring with full military honors. An intimate memorial service will follow. Everell was blessed to have a vast network of people who knew and loved him. Lauren is working on a digital legacy project to honor Everell and would love for you to share any special memories or thoughts you have of him. Kindly reach out to her at laurenhayesnv@gmail.com.

Everell was civic minded and passionately supported organizations that aligned with his core values of preserving public lands, continuing fire ecology education, and helping people and places that had been affected by wildland fire. In lieu of flowers, consider making a donation in his name to one of the following non-profit organizations: Yellowstone Nature Connection; Wildland Firefighters Foundation.

Everell married Living