Thomas F. Hayden,

Thomas Francis Hayden, II, of 141 Lake Ellis Rd., Athol, died suddenly at his home Saturday night, March 27, 2004. He had just turned 60 years old. Born in Worcester on March 11, 1944, he was the son of the late Howard M. and Irene (Ferguson) Hayden. Tom grew up in Athol and graduated from Athol Royalston Regional High School and Worcester State College. He was employed at Niagara Cutter and previously worked at the Union Twist Drill Company and the L.S. Starrett Co. Tom had a friendly greeting for everyone and a quick dry wit with a comeback always at the tip of his tongue. He was an accomplished guitar player and belonged to the Athol area amateur radio club, the Gold Miners club, the Odd Fellows club, among other area clubs. He loved to hunt and fish, as long as he didn't have to kill anything, and had recently taken up the game of golf. He is survived by two sisters, Dorothy E. Hayden of Royalston and Mary Wheeler and her husband, John of Phillipston, and a niece, Elizabeth Wheeler of Athol. He also leaves an uncle, aunt and cousin, Carl, Phyllis and Colleen Hayden in the Athol area, and an aunt, Dorothy Ferguson of Worcester. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the funeral from J. EDWARD MURPHY FUNERAL HOME, 137 Main St., Athol, Thursday followed by a Funeral Mass in Our Lady Immaculate Church at 11AM. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Athol. Calling hours at the funeral home are from 7-9 PM Wednesday and 9:30 - 10:30 AM Thursday. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Athol Public Library, 568 Main St., Athol, MA 01331, the smoking cessation program at Athol Memorial Hospital, the American Diabetes Association, Always and Forever Program, attention: ADA Web, PO box 2680, North Canton, OH 44720 or to any charity of choice. $(document).ready(function(){ });