Hayden Michael Walton, 13, died on Wednesday, June 1, 2011, at Flagstaff Medical Center. Funeral services were held June 7 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Winslow.
He was born June 9, 1997, in Flagstaff, the son of Carleen and Doug Walton.
Hayden loved sports and was an outstanding baseball player. He was a member of Angels Little League Senior Team, the Winslow Junior High School wrestling team and the Little Colorado Wrestling Club. He was also a member of the WJHS Band, playing the trumpet and the Euphonium. He always talked about and practiced the high school marching band songs. He was a Member of Boy Scouts Troop 7049. He worked very hard in pursuit of his life advancement and toward his Eagle. He was always prepared and packed everything in the house for a camp trip. He loved being outdoors, nature, wildlife, and the amazement of what he could find and drag home.
Hayden did not have a choice, with all of his grandfathers involved in drag racing, he began to train and learn how to drive a Junior Dragster at the age of 7. He competed in his first race at the age of 8, taking second place. He was hooked from that point on. This year he got a new race car. After the first pass, at almost 85 mph, he said, “It’s a bad dude.” He loved when everyone would gather around his car and ask questions.
Hayden’s sense of humor was one of a kind, and he loved to play jokes on family and friends. He always had a swift remark and a proud smirk. Hayden always worked hard and played hard. He loved being with his friends and family. His love for everyone was at the top of his list. He did whatever it took to get everyone he saw to smile. Hayden would never brag on those things, he just kept them to himself and sat back and smiled. His big cheesy smile will be missed by all.
As we have found out, the number of lives that he touched is remarkable. We will always cherish Hayden Walton No. 15, No. 7074.
Survivors include his parents, Doug and Carleen; his sisters, Mercedes and Reanna; his grandparents, Manning and Connie Walton, Mike and Carla Beeson, and Charles and Liz McLaws; his great-grandparents, Catherine Brown, Barbara McLaws, Freeda Beeson, Pauline Thilstead and Rich Randall; his aunts and uncles, Jeannie and John Jacobs, Michael Beeson, Manny Walton and Carol Moncayo, and Afton and Lisa Foster; his cousins, Travis, Melissa and Jessie Jacobs, Emmett, Blane and Quincy Foster, and Jacob, Chris, Deloris and Abbigail Walton. Hayden also has a very large extended family.
He was preceded in death by Carl Brown, Phillip McLaws, Walter Thilstead, Norviel (Pinky) Walton, Mary Walton-Randall, Howard and Georgia Hays, and Rochelle Walton.
Greer’s Mortuary of Winslow was in charge of the arrangements.
