Douglas D. Hayden

Douglas “Doug” DeWayne Hayden was born in Wichita, Kansas on June 21st, 1966. Doug was the oldest child born to Carol Jean Hayden.

Doug attended Wichita Public Schools; Sunnyside Elementary, Roosevelt Junior High and graduated from Wichita East High School in 1984 and was a really good math student. In junior high Doug developed a gift for singing and started singing with the Community Baptist Church Youth Choir.

Doug grew up doing the usual things, playing outside with his younger brother Eric and the rest of the neighborhood friends until their parents called them in for the night. Doug played football when he was in junior high school with a summer league team; The Wichita Panthers. One of Doug’s favorite things to do was cook with his mother; chicken was his favorite food and he could make a delicious apple pie.

Doug’s younger brother Eric was always very close to Doug and he fondly called him “big brother almighty”! The neighborhood they grew up in was a great place to run, play football, go swimming in the summer and develop friendships that lasted a lifetime.

Doug met one of his best friends while singing in the Community Baptist church youth choir, Chestine Hayden, she was the president and he was the vice president.  Doug would often say that Chestine was the love of his life! Through thick and thin they remained friends and a constant in each other’s lives.  Doug and Chestine later married and had 3 beautiful children.

Doug was a great provider and loved his children; his oldest daughter Jessica and his twins Malik and MacKinze. Doug doted on all 3 of his children and they loved their father. Jessica was proud that her dad gave his best years to them and was a great father without having his own father as a role model. Doug provided Jessica with a great example of how a man should love and provide for his family. MacKinze loved her father unconditionally and he always made her eyes light up whenever they were in the same room.  Prior to his son Malik’s passing, Doug and Malik would spend hours hanging out talking and watching TV.  Doug loved, helped and spoiled his children; they made him so proud!

Yes, Doug worked hard from a teenager working at Chi Chi’s Mexican restaurant, Pizza Hut, and Gradys Foundry. He then decided to acquire a skill and attended Butler County Community College where he received technical training and certification as a Sheet Metal mechanic. The training at Butler led to Doug working numerous aircraft jobs which included Boeing, Textron, Beech Aircraft, and Lockheed Martin in Atlanta, GA.  At Lockheed Martin he received several recognitions for his efficient and hard work.

Throughout his life, Doug’s beautiful voice led him to sing in many choirs! Starting at Community Baptist Church, to a men’s gospel group named; “Sacrifice of Praise", to Saint Mark United Methodist Church where his smooth, soulful, melodic voice led him to singing lead on many occasions.

On August 9 of this year God called Doug up to his heavenly choir where he is abiding in God’s comfort and grace. Yes, Jesus is truly now and forever the center of his Joy.

Preceding Doug in death are his grandparents Roy and Eltree Hayden,  mother Carol Jean Hayden, mother in love Bobbie Irving, son Malik Hayden, aunt Gladys Anderson, aunt Becky Hayden, and uncle Ricky Hayden.

Left to cherish his memories are daughters; Jessica Hayden and MacKinze Hayden, ex-wife Chestine Hayden, brother Eric (Brenda) Hayden, uncles Roy Hayden and Manuel(Tessie)Hayden, aunt Rosa Hayden and host of close relatives, family and friends.

Doug: Loving father, Great provider, Big brother almighty and Now resting in Peace!

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