Devon Gibbons Hayes

May 25, 1998 – June 15, 2025

Our beloved son, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin and friend passed away on Father’s Day, June 15, after a 2 year battle with brain cancer.

Devon Gibbons Hayes was born to Jennifer and David Hayes, and older brother, Nelson, in San Ramon, California on Memorial Day, May 25th 1998. He grew up in Mercer Island, Washington after moving with his family in 2000.

Devon loved sports and participated in soccer, football, wrestling, tennis, lacrosse, and basketball throughout his youth, but his favorite sport was baseball, which he enjoyed from T-Ball, little league, travel teams, club teams to high school. He was fortunate to be on the Mercer Island High School varsity team that won the 2015 state championship.

Somewhat incongruent was Devon’s enjoyment of playing in the school band, starting in 5th grade with the trombone and moving to percussion a year later. Here, Devon found his home and continued with drum line through the end of high school. As part of the legendary MIHS band program, Devon had some incredible experiences, including playing in Australia, and at halftime at Seahawks games. However, his favorite performances were school basketball and football games – and the Taco Bell shenanigans that would follow. He tolerated other aspects but loved and developed a deep comradery with his fellow drum line crew.

Devon graduated from Mercer Island High School in 2016, where he was voted the student with the “Best Smile”, and went on to study math at California Polytechnic State University. After college, Devon worked for 3 years as Business Operations Manager at Microsoft Azure until his cancer diagnosis.

Devon had an enthusiasm and curiosity for everything he did, from playing video games to following baseball stats, learning all the flags in the world or playing word games and truly lived in the moment. He was also unapologetic, could be stubborn and “didn’t suffer fools gladly.” The best compliments in life came from Devon because if he said something, you always knew he meant it. Devon was a man of few words, but would tell us he had no regrets in life.

Spending time with friends and family gave Devon his most pleasure whether playing video games with the “California Boyz”, skiing, bowling, attending sporting events or trivia nights with close friends. After his diagnosis, Devon spent his time bowling with his cousins, golfing with his dad, wine tasting with his uncle, and enjoying gourmet meals and chamber music concerts with his grandparents. He was happiest with those he loved.

We will miss his wit, spirited discussions, sports trivia knowledge, but mostly his world class hugs. He did have a great dimpled smile.

Devon is survived by his parents, Jennifer and David Hayes and his brother Nelson Hayes as well as his grandparents Maureen and Robert Gibbons, Aunt and Uncle, Susan and Tom Gibbons and cousins Tate and Anders Gibbons.

A celebration of Devon’s life will be held October 25th , 3pm at the VFW on Mercer Island 1836 72nd Ave SE.

Remembrances in Devon’s name can be made to Seattle Children’s Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Fund PO Box 9784 Seattle, WA 98109 or online at pbtrf.org.