Tony Dean Hayes

Tony Dean Hayes, age 64, passed away on September 19, 2017, in the loving embrace of his family. Tony was a lifelong Cincinnati resident. He attended Taylor High School and graduated from Eastern Kentucky University. He began his career as an industrial arts teacher at Holmes High School in Covington, KY. Later, he owned and operated a truck and auto body shop. Most recently, he worked in maintenance at the Blue Ash YMCA. Tony, being a jack-of-all-trades, thoroughly enjoyed the challenges of maintaining the facility and working with the staff of the “Y”.

There weren't enough hours in a day for Tony, and each day began early. Most mornings he could be found at the counter of his local Bob Evans where he developed lasting friendships with other “regulars” and the friendly morning crew. Often, when they were younger, he had his daughters in tow. When Tony wasn't working, he busied himself with woodworking projects, home remodeling, crafting furniture, doing body work on his daughters’ cars and cooking his family’s favorite soups. He was a resourceful person who repurposed materials in unique ways. Evidence of his skill and creativity are found throughout the Hayes home. Tony followed his favorite teams, Alabama’s Crimson Tide, the University of Michigan and Xavier University. He was also an avid car racing fan.

While Tony loved people, and made friends wherever he went, his greatest passion was his family- his wife Debbie, and their daughters Hannah and Taylor. Tony was a proud dad who doted on his girls and enlivened car rides with his renditions of popular songs on the radio and demonstrated his own unique style of dancing with abandon. Favorite family memories are of beach vacations, boating and snowmobiling in Michigan and father-daughter dances. Tony was especially excited to welcome Hannah’s fiancé, Jake, into the family.

Tony was preceded in death by his father, Willard Hayes, mother, Jeanne, and step-mother Madge. He leaves behind his wife of 34 years, Debbie, daughters Hannah (fiancé Jake Koopman) and Taylor Hayes, brothers Scott (Patty) and Dennis Hayes, sister Cathie (Richard) Perron and numerous other relatives and close friends, all of whom will sorely miss him.

The family wishes to thank the dedicated nurses and Chaplain Tim of Hospice of Cincinnati for their loving care of Tony and support of his loved ones during this difficult time. Memorial contributions in Tony’s name may be made to Hospice of Cincinnati.

A visitation will be held on Saturday, September 30 from 1-3 P.M., followed immediately by a Celebration of Life service at the Dennis George Funeral Home in Cleves. Color and pattern were hallmarks of Tony’s style when he was feeling well, so you're invited to dress in accordance with a celebration as we honor the life of this colorful man.