Cinnamon Jill Hayes

Passed Away on August 12, 2016

Cinnamon, along with her brother Sage, got to go through life with just one name, like Madonna, Cher and Sting. She was born three weeks early in an emergency C section with a full head of reddish hair. Her groggy mother was watching a rerun of the TV series Mission Impossible with character Cinnamon Carter, thus the derivative of her name. Spicy pets named Ginger, Pepper, Oregano, and Paprika would soon populate the home. As an adult, she fostered many dogs and cats, often making videos and writing creative little descriptions to increase their chance of finding a “furever” home. Her truest canine soul mate, a Great Dane named Xena, died just a week before her. They are now together again. Halloween was her favorite holiday. Her love of pretending to be someone else evolved into fanatical participation in Star Trek Conventions, Comicons, and Dr. Who Conventions. She made most of her costumes, always unique, often winning prizes. She loved The Walking Dead and Game of Thrones. Her posters of Freddy Krueger would scare the hell out of her mother whenever she would enter Cinnamon’s bedroom. She loved scary movies and haunted houses! Whenever Cinnamon was in the room, things would get exciting. She relished saying things that could be shocking, but always harmless and clever. She was a prolific FB blogger. Her breast cancer “humor” these past few years would put everyone at ease on the subject. In fact, her state of denial about having Stage IV breast cancer probably added years to her life. She just plain refused to let it beat her. Her bravery and unwillingness to complain impressed her family and friends. For example, on the way home from the hospital after having a double mastectomy, she answered her phone. She told the caller that “it would be all right. We’ll be stopping at Walgreens to get some press-on titties.” The family appreciates the loving and caring treatment of oncologist Dr. Robert Livingston at the University of Arizona Cancer Center who kept her cancer in remission for a number of years. Her last FB entry in early July was marveling that while her hair was growing back on her head, it was not in her armpits and how excited she was about that. Her creative writing always made people smile. Her writing skills were also useful in her pursuit of a PhD in Biology at Arizona State University. She was a stellar student, mentored by her doctoral advisor Dr. Stan Faeth, who was instrumental in encouraging her to succeed. She is survived by her husband of 23 years, Cade Hayes of Mesa. They raised two beautiful daughters, Stormy and Rowan…again names that would not require a last name! Cinnamon leaves behind three grandchildren Persephone, Castiel, and Lycan. Her parents, Fred and Deborah Gatzke, reside in Texas. Her brother Sage resides in Seattle with his fiancée Ashley. Cinnamon Jill (Gatzke) Hayes was born on October 3, 1973, in Columbus, Ohio. She died in Tempe, Arizona, on August 7, 2016, the last day of the Star Trek Official 50th Anniversary Convention. She always wanted a horse, but never got one. Her Great Dane was as large as a horse, but she said that didn’t count. She always wanted to live in Cloudcroft, New Mexico, but never got to. She recently said she wished she had accomplished more in her life (don’t we all), but really did accomplish a lot in her 42 years…and touched the lives of thousands of people who will never forget her. Cinnamon. May her soul live long and prosper.

Visitation will be held on Friday, August 12, 2016 at Mountain View Funeral Home, 7900 East Main Street in Mesa from 10:00 am until the Celebration of Life at 11:00 am.  Interment will be at Mountain View Cemetery in Mesa. In lieu of flowers, please consider making donations to one of Cinnamon’s passionate causes listed below…or a local animal shelter of your choice.

Welcome

http://www.browndogfoundation.org

http://uacc.arizona.edu/profile/robert-livingston