James "Jim" Hayes, 86, of 24325 County Route 54, passed over to the Lord on Saturday, April 7, due to complications of kidney failure. The youngest child of James and Julia Hayes, he was born Oct. 9, 1925, in Glen Park and attended Brownville-Glen Park school. Jim entered the Army in 1944 and trained to be a paratrooper. In that capacity, he served in France, Belgium & Germany with the 17th Airborne Division. Jim was awarded the Purple Heart after being injured in Germany. After recovering for six months in an Army Hospital in Paris, he was honorably discharged in 1945. He married Virginia Paul, daughter of Timothy and Cora Paul, Brownville at Immaculate Conception Church. They spent much of their married life in Brownville, later moving to their farm on Perch River Road. Jim and Virginia worked together for 40 years raising Morgan horses & boarding horses on their farm Kalimar Stables. Jim loved working around his farm, caring for his animals, riding fields on his tractor, gardening and bird watching. His greatest enjoyment was trail riding on his horse, Onyx with his daughter and friends. Pets were a big part of Jim's life, having enjoyed many dogs, cats, horse; his favorite being his yellow lab, Duke and Boston Terriers. Spending time with his grandson, Kevin, watching Giants and Blue Jays was very special. Jim also enjoyed many years trying to solve world problems with his good friend, Joe. Jim was a 50-year member of Local 910 IBEW in Watertown and spent his electrical career working on many construction jobs in the north country including the St. Lawrence Seaway project. He retired in 1987. He was a past Brownville police chief, village board trustee and town constable. He greatly enjoyed being a past member of the Brownville Fire Department and serving as fire chief. Surviving are his wife of 65 years, Virginia; daughter, Pamela Hayes, Dexter; grandsons, Kevin Jumps, Dexter, and Daniel Jumps (Gina), Branford, Conn.; and a great-granddaughter, Ella Jumps, Branford, Conn.; nieces and nephews; and also his dear sister, Madeline Judkins and her husband Jimmy of Oklahoma City. The Judkins were for many years summer residents of Pillar Point and Chaumont. He was predeceased by his parents and three sisters, Marguerite Dasno, Dexter, Myrtle Deline, Watertown and Dorothy Hayes, Chaumont. A son-in-law, Richard Jumps, died in 2001. Honoring Jims' love of animals, if one desires, donations in his memory may be made to Jefferson County SPCA, Water St., Watertown. Arrangements with Johnson Funeral Home will be private. A loving husband , dad, and grandpa, Jim will be sadly missed, but leaves behind precious memories of a long and happy life.