Miller "Dean" Hayden, Jr., 71, of Fort Worth, TX, passed away on November 16, 2018 in Fort Worth, TX.

Funeral services will be held at 10:15 a.m. on November 21, 2018 at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery, 2000 Mountain Creek Parkway, Dallas, TX 75211.  A committal ceremony with full military honors will be held to honor Dean's service to our country.  Arrangements are by Bill DeBerry Funeral Directors, 2025 W. University Dr., Denton, TX 76201.

Dean was born in Baltimore, MD on November 12, 1947.  He soon moved to Salt Lake City, UT, where he spent much of his life until moving to Texas in 1992.  He attended Granite High School in Salt Lake City, UT and the University of Utah.  Dean was a veteran of the Vietnam War.  He served in the infantry with the 1st Calvary Division, 7th Calvary (Garry Owen) Regiment.  He was honorably discharged as a Sergeant E5 in July of 1969.  He was the recipient of the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Vietnam Service medal, the Combat Infantry Badge, the Bronze Star Medal and the Air Medal.

He married Martha Hayden (nee Kennedy) on June 3, 1972 in Youngstown, OH.  Dean had a sharp wit and made friends wherever he went.  He was an accomplished artist and potter.  He enjoyed golf, fishing and camping, gardening, beating his grandsons at bumper pool, and rooting for his beloved University of Utah Utes Football team.

Dean is preceded in death by his parents, Miller Dean Hayden, Sr. and Lois Evans Hayden.

Dean is survived by his wife, Martha Hayden, his daughters Erin Hayden Tate (Raymond) and Wendi Darr (James), his brother Bradley Stuart Hayden, his grandchildren Nicholas Tate, Jonathan Tate, Haley Darr (fiancé Jacob Holland) and Jake Darr; and his great-grandchild, Nicholas Mitchell Holland.    He is also survived by his uncle Joe Mac Hayden and aunt Lorene Hayden; and remembered fondly by his extended family of in-laws as well as his many friends and neighbors.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to the following organizations:

National Multiple Sclerosis Society: https://www.nationalmssociety.org/

Vietnam Veterans of America: https://vva.org

Community Hospice of Texas: https://www.chot.org/

The family would like to extend our sincere thanks to the staff at Texas Health Harris Methodist Fort Worth Hospital, especially the Medical/Surgical ICU staff.  We would also like to thank the staff at Community Hospice of Texas, who provided exceptional compassionate comfort to Dean and his family.