Carl Hayden, 65, of Salina, Kansas, passed away in his home on June 12, 2026. Born on October 7, 1960, in Okinawa, Carl lived a life defined by hard work, kindness, mentorship, and devotion to his family. He married his high school sweetheart, Angela, and had two children, Casey and Sheena. Together they shared 47 years of marriage filled with love, dedication, and countless cherished memories. Carl attended Kansas Wesleyan University and Marymount College on baseball scholarships, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Business.

Carl spent the majority of his career in sales, with Frito Lay, Sysco Food Service and ended with Bimbo Bakeries, where he excelled professionally and built lasting relationships with customers and colleagues alike. He genuinely enjoyed meeting people and took pride in helping others. Known for his strong work ethic and willingness to share his knowledge, Carl served as a mentor to many throughout his career and left a lasting impact on those fortunate enough to work alongside him.

Outside of work, Carl’s greatest passion was his family, especially his grandchildren, whom he loved dearly. He cherished every opportunity to spend time with them and took great pride in being an active part of their lives. Family gatherings, celebrations, and everyday moments with those he loved brought him his greatest happiness.

Baseball was another lifelong passion. Carl loved the game and dedicated countless hours to coaching his son, Casey, throughout his youth. He also spent many hours supporting and helping his daughter, Sheena, in her athletic endeavors, always encouraging her to work hard, believe in herself, and do her best. Later, he shared that same love of sports with his grandchildren, helping coach and encourage them in their athletic pursuits. Over the years, he coached numerous youth baseball teams and was deeply involved in the Babe Ruth baseball program, where he devoted countless hours to mentoring and developing young athletes. Through sports, Carl taught lessons in teamwork, sportsmanship, perseverance, and dedication that extended far beyond the field.

Carl also loved fishing and spending time outdoors. In his later years, when he was no longer able to work, he found immense happiness in nature. He enjoyed feeding and watching wildlife around his home, whether it was birds, squirrels, raccoons, opossums, stray cats, or any other creatures that crossed his path. He also had a special place in his heart for animals and dearly loved his cats and his faithful dogs, Miss Mollie and Mickie, who brought him companionship, comfort, and joy.

Carl is survived by his loving wife, Angela; his son, Casey Hayden; his daughter, Sheena Torres; his cherished grandchildren, Isaiah Hayden, Annabel Torres, Carlos Torres, Orlando Torres, and Emilio Torres; his mother-in-law, Carol Lohmann; brother-in-law, Todd Ellison and wife, Staci; sisters-in-law, Ladonna Wiles and Vonda Schraner and husband, Dave; as well as many extended family members and dear friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Matthew Hayden and Masako Hayden.

He will be remembered for his generous spirit, his dedication to his family, his love of baseball, nature, and animals, and the kindness he showed to everyone he met. His absence leaves a tremendous void in the lives of those who loved him, and he will be deeply missed every day.

We would like to say a special thank you to Interim Healthcare for the compassion and caring they showed Carl during this very difficult time.

In accordance with Carl’s wishes, there will be no funeral service. A celebration of life will be held at a later date to honor and remember the remarkable man he was.

In lieu of flowers, you can make a donation to the ALS Association to help find a cure for this horrible disease.

*”Those we love don’t go away; they walk beside us every day. Unseen, unheard

Arrangements are by Affordable Cremations Plus, Wichita, Kansas.