Emerson L. Hayden

Emerson L. Hayden was issued his last uniform Monday September 7, 2015. Born January 25, 1932 the eldest child of Roy and Juanita Hayden, a true child of the Depression and WW2 decade, he spent most of his childhood while not in school, working between the family farm and his grandparents' farms on the south edge of Wichita. According to his mother while other boys played "cowboys and Indians", Emerson played "cowboys and cops ". After a childhood of Saturday afternoon matinee news reels during the war, it was no surprise that his goal was to "serve his country".

Upon graduating top of his high school class at 17, his parents signed permission, and by his 18th birthday he was wearing his first uniform, a sea going Marine MP. After being honorably discharged, he returned home, became a rural mail carrier, but started a lifelong love of uniforms and gun craft. Uniforms collected: reserve, regular, Chief of Police of Derby, Kansas, Texas Border Patrol, Kansas Highway Patrol, Chief of Police Larned, Kansas, and Boy Scout Leader. Health issues in his early 50's brought a change of uniform and a move back to Wichita, Kansas where he re-upped at the Post Office-filling several and always upward positions-most in uniform. During this time he was a reserve police officer in Cheney, Kansas. Upon finally retiring post 70 he joined the rest of the family in north east Kansas. Helping raise a few grand kids and being a reserve police officer in Burlingame, Kansas.

Woven throughout this tapestry of uniforms was a marriage to Shirley M. Crabb that endured from September 4, 1953 to his death. Emerson is survived by his children, Barbara (Bill) King, Bruce Hayden, and Susan (Tim) Zieman; grandchildren, Rodney, Rose, Emerson, Merriam and Micah.

Emerson also had a lifelong love of learning, reading, gadgets and guns. This culminated in frequent additional adult training mostly associated with his employment. A point of pride of his being earning an Associate degree in Law Enforcement earned from Barton County Community College in 1976. His children often shocking their teachers with the literature they were toting around, having the first microwave oven in town, and a basement full of reloading equipment and shooting trophies.

After a long healthy life fueled by Dr. Pepper, greasy burgers (McDonald's McDoubles a favorite), and any form of chocolate, (Hershey bars being at the top of the list); confounding friends, family and medicos with perfect numbers for cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar, a diagnosis of Alzheimer's surprised us all. He continued to enjoy his diet and activities for more years, enjoying a special relationship with son-in-law, Bill. After Bill's retirement they spent several hours bonding over old cowboy movies, TV sports, and cheap lunches. He often expressed that he enjoyed what could become loud, robust and radical political discussions by the rest of the family. He became so corrupted by them that he even admitted to voting Democrat a few times late in life.

An unfortunate fall while climbing to turn on his ceiling fan, broken hip and subsequent treatment accelerated his Alzheimer's ending his life. However we can be assured that the paths to the great beyond are now being patrolled and kept safe by the "new guy" in his "new uniform".

By request there is to be no formal funeral. A private inurnment will be at a later date in the El Paso Cemetery, Derby Kansas. If you feel inclined, honor our husband, father, grandfather by taking a friend out for a cheap lunch, lift your favorite carbonated beverage in memory of, and don't forget to ask for all applicable senior discounts.