Shawn Fitzgerald Hayes, 60, died of natural causes at his home in Nampa, ID on July 21, 2024. Shawn was born in Nampa, ID on August 12, 1963, the son of Eugene and Virginia Argetus Hayes. He was raised a Catholic and attended St Paul’s parish in Nampa. They later moved to Caldwell in 1978. Here, he attended Caldwell High School graduating in 1982. Shawn enlisted in the US Navy in 1982 shortly after graduation. Working as a machinist he was assigned multiple duty stations both shipboard, shore assignments and at Naval submarine bases in Japan, Guam, Washington state, California, Idaho, and Nevada as he rose to the rank of Senior Chief Petty Officer. As Senior Chief Hayes, Shawn served as a Navy Regional Recruiting Manager for the Portland Recruiting District, supervising ten recruiting stations over three states rounding out his Naval career in Nevada before returning to Idaho in 2008. Shawn met his first wife, Mary Jo Robinson during high school and they were married in 1985. Shawn and Mary Jo were married 25 years and had three children together. He retired from the Navy after 26 years and began a new career as a Corrections Officer at SRCI in Oregon. Shawn later married his second wife, Arnae Douglas and following his urges to keep moving, relocated to North Dakota, before returning to Nampa a few years later to be near his children. Shawn then worked as a machinist in various positions in Nampa and Boise until retiring in October 2023. Shawn was well known for his interest in bodybuilding, which drove him to compete in multiple competitions alongside his brother, Jim. This passion was shown in a 1990 Trident Tides newspaper article where Shawn placed second in the Armed Forces Championship in Southern California at his first contest, which was a significant feat. When he was not working in the gym, he could usually be found working on a car in his garage, riding his Harley, or watching old movies, historical documentaries, and dramas. Shawn was always known to be the life of the party. He never met a stranger and was always sharing stories from all the places he had traveled and people he had met. He was known for his frequent use of sarcasm, and he loved a good practical joke. He was a man you could not miss, with a loud, booming laugh and a voice that demanded your attention. His love for his children and grandchildren was endless and they were the highlight of his life. Shawn is survived by his three children Ashley Hayes Lang (Robert), Shawn A. Hayes, and Maggie Hayes; his five grandchildren, Braelynn Hayes, Tailey Hayes, Maddox Lang, Lakelyn Lang, and Dorthy Lang; ex-spouses Mary Jo Robinson Hayes and Arnae Douglas Hayes. He is also survived by his parents Eugene Hayes and Virginia Hayes as well as his siblings Gene Hayes, Dana Wheeler (Lauren), and Georgia Shetler (Jeff) and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death and will be greeted by his brother Jim Hayes, sister Ginger Hayes, and beloved dog Dutchess. A viewing will be held on July 31 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a rosary to follow from 7:00 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Zeyer’s Funeral Chapel in Nampa. The funeral mass will be held on August 1 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Paul’s in Nampa. His burial will take place on August 2 at 1:00 p.m. at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery in Boise.
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