Roger K. Hayes, 93, of North Granby and beloved husband of the late Freda E. (Nolan) Hayes, passed away peacefully on Oct. 11.
The son of the late Gerald and Mabel (Korn) Hayes, he was raised and lived his entire adult life in North Granby. He was a 1948 graduate of Simsbury High School and earned a bachelor of science degree from the University of Connecticut College of Agriculture and Natural Resources in 1952.
Following graduation, Roger returned home to continue the family’s farming tradition as a partner in the “House of Hayes” dairy farm in North Granby, a role he proudly held from 1952 until 1996. Roger and Freda were married on April 21, 1956 and together they operated the farm and raised three sons. Roger dedicated his life to farming in which he enjoyed the rhythm of the seasons and the challenges of running the farm business. He continued to help on the farm long after his retirement.
Roger’s leadership and service were felt throughout both the local community and the broader agricultural world. He was deeply involved in 4-H, serving as treasurer and president of the Hartford County 4-H Fair Association, as well as on the Hartford County Advisory Committee. From 1998 to 2004, he served on the board of directors of the 4-H Center at Auer Farm in Bloomfield, CT. He also contributed his time and experience as a committeeman or delegate for several farm-related organizations, including the Hartford County ASCS Committee (now FSA), where he served as chairman for several years, Agri-Mark Milk Co-Op and its predecessors, Agway, Inc. and Genex A.I. He enjoyed being a volunteer driver for the Granby Transportation Action Program for many years.
A lifelong UConn Husky fan, Roger especially enjoyed following the UConn Women’s Basketball team.
Roger’s dedication extended to civic life in Granby as well. He served for 11 years on the board of finance and contributed to the Cossitt Library board, Granby Library Board, inland wetlands commission and Holcomb Farm study committee. In his retirement years he served as treasurer of both the Citizens for a Better Granby (CBG) and the Granby Drummer (since 2003) and the Salmon Brook Historical Society (since 2006).
A valued member of the CBG board, Roger applied his strong financial experience to creating forms and processes that would clarifyCBGfinancial reports. He shared his ideas easily and could always be relied upon to carefully consider both the direct and indirect impacts of any new initiative undertaken by CBG.
He leaves his sons Terry Hayes and his wife Dotty, Stanley Hayes and his wife Dorothy, and Stephen Hayes and his wife Nancy, as well as his sister Ferne Hayes and sister-in-law Louise Hayes. He was predeceased by his brother James Hayes.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Nov. 15 at 2 p.m. at Granby Congregational Church, UCC, North Campus, 219 North Granby Road Memorial donations may be made to Citizens for a Better Granby/The Granby Drummer at granbydrummer.org (click the Donate Now button) or The Salmon Brook Historical Society at salmonbrookhistoricalsociety.com/donations