James Hayes, 1933–2026, founder of J.J. Hayes Oil Company

James J. Hayes of Polk City, Florida and Hampton, New Hampshire, formerly of Waltham, died Feb. 18, 2026 at Lakeland Regional Medical Center in Lakeland, Florida. He was 92.

Born on May 25, 1933 in Boston, Jim was the son of the late Albert J. Hayes and Dorothy M. (Gillen) Hayes. He was raised in the Lakeview neighborhood of Waltham. From a young age he always loved cars. Growing up in his teens, he raced stock cars at West Peabody Speedway. He soon enlisted in the U.S. Army and served overseas in Paris, France during the Korean War. He served much of that time as a driver for the colonel, also driving celebrities visiting the troops such as Elvis and Danny Kaye.

After his honorable discharge from the U.S. Army, he returned to Waltham and worked various jobs in construction before deciding to go out on his own, purchasing an oil truck, fixing it up and starting his own company. With an entrepreneurial spirit, and with Patricia by his side as his full partner in every venture, he built and operated James J. Hayes Oil Company Inc. and Wal-Lex Oil, serviced oil burners for many other companies in the area, owned rental properties both commercial and residential, and later owned and operated the Hampton Harbor Motel and Surfside Chalet in Hampton, New Hampshire.

In retirement, he enjoyed traveling with his wife, Pat, in their RV, going up and down the coast and crossing the U.S. 19 times, taking every route possible. He was also an antique car collector and enthusiast. He especially enjoyed his Corvette, his Edsel, and his 1935 Model A Ford 2-door coupe, winning many prizes for his cars over the years. As someone who was always happy moving, if he wasn’t on the road, he enjoyed being out on his boat up in Hampton. More than anything though, he loved being Papa to his 9 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.

He leaves his beloved wife Patricia A. (Scannell) Hayes, with whom he shared over 70 years of marriage since their wedding on June 19, 1955; his children, Joyce E. MacDowell of Hampton, New Hampshire, Pamela J. Keir (the late David) of Hampton, New Hampshire, and Paula M. Hughes (John) of Waltham; his grandchildren, Heather Richards, Bruce MacDowell Jr. (Dani), Clayton MacDowell (Liz), Allison Keir, Meredith Bonner (Lee), James Hayes III (Emily), John Hughes Jr. (Lyndsay) and Jacqueline Hughes (Timothy Leonard); his great-grandchildren, Charlie and Oliver Richards, Wesley and Liana Hayes, Greyson and Marshal Bonner, Brady and Henry Hughes, and Alexandria MacDowell; his siblings, Albert “Rusty” Hayes Jr. (Weston) of Ogunquit, Maine, Richard Hayes (Nancy) of Lebanon, Tennessee, Rose Browning of Wilmington and Genesta Catton of Tyngsboro.

Jim was predeceased by his siblings, Robert Hayes, Barbara Dudek, Joan Zampitella and Margaret Trumbour.

Family and friends will honor and remember Jim’s life by gathering for an evening wake at the Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham from 4p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 29 and again on Thursday morning, April 30 at 9 a.m. before leaving in procession to Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted Church, 880 Trapelo Road, Waltham where his funeral mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Burial will follow with military honors in Mount Feake Cemetery, Waltham.