Richard Julian Hayes

Richard Julian Hayes of Davis California, passed away peacefully at the age of 84 on February 20, 2026 after a nine-year journey with Alzheimer’s.

He was born on November 7, 1941 and was known for his love of family and friends, his strong work ethic, his sense of humor, his adventurous nature and his enthusiasm for life. Richard and his wife Kathy loved to travel and took many wonderful trips over the years. Wherever they went they made friends and had fun. He was an avid outdoorsman who loved hiking, snorkeling, fishing, skiing and camping. Richard had an interest in everything and was an avid reader and a lifelong learner. He only read non-fiction because he would say he didn’t know all the facts yet.

Richard was born in San Francisco to Bonnie Ness Hayes and Norval Hayes and grew up in Marysville CA. He was a graduate of Marysville High School and Sacramento State University where he earned a degree in civil engineering.

Richard spent his professional career as a water resources engineer working for the state of California Department of Water Resources, the United States Army Corps of Engineers, and as a private engineering consultant. His work for the Corps of Engineers involved developing river and reservoir computer models that were used all over the world. Richard traveled extensively teaching engineers to use the programs that he helped to develop. He did a lot of work on the Panama Canal, including work on the Panamax expansion of locks to accommodate larger vessels.

Richard was an army veteran, a volunteer firefighter with the West Plainfield Fire Department and a volunteer delivering holiday meals for STEAC. He was always the first to volunteer in any situation where help was needed.

He was preceded in death by his son, Richard Benjamin (Hope) and is survived by his beloved wife, Kathy, his daughters Julie and Jeanine, his son Jason (Carol), children by marriage, Jason Overstreet (Erin) and Lisa Overstreet, eleven grandchildren and ten great grandchildren.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to YOLO Cares whose hospice workers gave great support and comfort to both Richard and Kathy, or to the Alzheimer’s association. The family wishes to thank the wonderful staff of the Memory Care unit at the Carlton in Davis.