William Hayes

It is with great sadness that our family announces the death of our loved one. William Carmen Hayes, died of natural causes at home in Seattle, Washington on March 10, 2022. William was born November 8, 1938, in Spokane, Washington to Phyllis Benita Usher and Othel Lee Hayes. He grew up in Spokane with his younger siblings, Carol, David, and Bonnie, and was surrounded by his grandparents, whom he adored, numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.

William joined the Navy when he was just 17 years old and was extremely proud of his service that took him around the World from 1955 to 1969. He was the recipient of several medals, including the Bronze Star Vietnam Service Medal and a Cuban Navy Expeditionary Medal. Despite the hardships faced during wartime, he fondly remembered playing the guitar in the ship bands and was honored to have his drawing used as the official insignia for the USS Tripoli.

William met and Married Shirley Elaine Beck while they were both stationed in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1958. They enjoyed their time together on Lemon Road with their dog, Wahine, but returned stateside to have their three girls, Patricia, Katheryn, and Brandy. William is survived by his wife, his three daughters, five grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, his youngest Sister, Bonnie Hayes Sparlin of Grants Pass, Oregon, and many nieces and nephews.

William will be remembered as a talented musician, artist, pool player, and lover of all things with a motor, from sports cars to Harley-Davidsons.

William will be laid in for natural organic reduction on April 22, 2022, by Recompose of Seattle. To join the family in the Zoom service, please reach out to one of his daughters.

His remains will be interred in the Marble Columbarium at Tahoma National Veterans Memorial Cemetery and donated to the Bells Mountain reforestation effort.

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About Recompose

Recompose is a licensed, full-service, green funeral home in Seattle offering human composting. As the first human composting company in the world, we are a trusted leader in ecological death care. We are Seattle’s only human composting provider and serve clients across the U.S.

Recompose Seattle
4 S. Idaho St, Seattle, WA 98134
Open by appointment

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Voted Best Funeral Home in Seattle Times’ Best in the PNW Contest 2023

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Recompose acknowledges we make our lives and livelihoods on the lands of the Coast Salish People, specifically the Duwamish People. We honor with gratitude the Duwamish People past and present, the land itself, and the Duwamish Tribe. Colonization is an active, persistent process. Indigenous communities continue to be resilient in protecting their ecological and cultural lifeways and deathways despite ongoing oppression. Recompose respects, shares, and supports this commitment to climate healing and environmental justice. Join Recompose in contributing to Real Rent Duwamish.