Richard Allen Hayden

Richard Allen Hayden of Melissa, Texas passed away on January 3, 2018 at the age of 83. He was born on August 3, 1934 to Robert Everett and Freda Marguerite (Suffel) Hayden in Watertown, New York. Richard married Dawnie Isaacson on August 7, 1965 in Sun Valley, Idaho. He proudly served his country as an officer in the United States Army Special Forces (Green Beret) – Airborne and Ranger qualified -and reached the rank of Captain. Richard also served in the Army National Guard. He had a lifetime career in the meat industry including Vice-President of ConAgra Foods and Executive Vice President of Swift Independent Packing Co. Richard retired as President of Berliner & Marx in New York City, New York. He was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Melissa, Texas. Richard and Dawnie loved their time serving as missionaries for the church in the England London mission for 19 months. He was a member of the Melissa City Council and 2015 Citizen of the Year.

Richard is survived by his loving wife of 52 years, Dawnie Hayden of Melissa; children, Laurie Scheiber and husband, Cliff of Columbia, Maryland, Lisa Clark and husband, Doug of Leesburg, Virginia; Jeff Hayden and wife, Gayle of Lakewood, Colorado, Amber Poulter of Roseville, California, Jacqueline Peck and husband, Scott of Bells, Texas, Leslie Haskell of Melissa, Texas; 26 grandchildren; 47 great-grandchildren; and numerous other loving family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00a.m., Saturday, January 6, 2018 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 737 Melissa Road, Melissa, Texas 75454. The family will receive friends during a visitation on Friday evening from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home, 2525 Central Expressway North, Allen, Texas. Interment will take place at Malad City Cemetery, Malad City, Idaho on Saturday, January 13, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. Visitation will be at 1:00 p.m. at Horsley Funeral Home 132 300 N, Malad City, ID 83252.

Memorial donations may be made in Richard’s honor to the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org or a cancer organization of your choice.