Ronald Cary Hayes Eddins

Ronald Cary Hayes Eddins, age 81, stepped peacefully into eternity from his home on June 2, 2026, surrounded by the family he loved so deeply. It is profoundly fitting that Ron’s journey began on May 8, 1945—the historic V-E Day. He lived his entire life with that same triumphant, patriotic spirit, leaving behind a legacy of integrity, passion, and boundless energy.

From his youth, Ron approached life with a sharp mind and a competitive heart. At Texas Christian University (TCU), he balanced a love for deep thinking with athletic drive, earning a degree in philosophy while playing baseball for the Horned Frogs. He carried that same determination to Baylor Law School, sparking a brilliant 36-year career as an Assistant United States Attorney in Fort Worth. Ron became a formidable force for good, taking on complex white-collar fraud cases and partnering with the FBI to uncover the truth. He was a champion of justice who believed that doing things the right way mattered above all else. His dedication to country was also reflected in his proud service as an airborne soldier in the National Guard Reserves.

In 1968, Ron married his true partner in life, Elizabeth Sumner Eddins. Together, they danced through nearly 58 years of marriage, building a beautiful, bustling family and looking forward to celebrating their 58th anniversary this coming August 10th. Their love created a firm foundation for generations to follow.

Ron’s greatest joy was being there for the people he loved. He was a hands-on, encouraging father, coaching his children in baseball, soccer, tennis, and basketball. As his family grew, he stepped into the role of his grandchildren’s biggest fan. Ron never missed a moment to celebrate them—traveling near and far to stand proudly in the crowds at their sporting events, applaud at their graduations, and dance at their weddings.

Retirement only fueled Ron’s zest for life. He and Elizabeth traveled the world together, and he chased his passion on the golf course with incredible skill. A true craftsman of the game, he maintained a low handicap, celebrated a brilliant hole-in-one, and achieved the rare feat of regularly shooting below his age for a full decade starting at 70. He also channeled his sharp mind into the arts with beautiful paintings, artistic and functional furniture that adorn the homes of his family and poetry where he shared his love for country with the Poets of Tarrant County.

Ron was a creative, intense, and deeply good man who demanded excellence of himself and inspired it in everyone around him. While he will be deeply missed, his family celebrates a life incredibly well-lived and the beautiful examples of love, inner strength and integrity he left behind.

He lives on in the hearts of his beloved wife, Elizabeth Sumner Eddins. He is joyfully reunited with his parents, Millard RC Hayes and Helen Ruth Hooper, Stepfather George Leslie Eddins, and his beloved eldest son, Ronald Cary Eddins. His enduring legacy continues through his children and their families: his daughter Marci Eddins Warren and her husband Darrell Warren and their children, Samuel Hayes Warren and Audrey Elizabeth Warren; his son Scott Eddins and his wife Tara and their children, Gentry Hayes Eddins, Tyler Yates Eddins, Weston Scott Eddins, and Royal Cary Eddins; and his daughter-in-law Michelle Eddins (wife of his late son, Ronnie) and their children, Emily Sumner Eddins (and husband Mateo Suarez) and Ethan James Eddins. Ron is also survived by his brother, Richard Davis Hayes, along with a wide community of extended family, colleagues, and lifelong friends.

Living Tributes

In honor of Ron’s passionate spirit, and in lieu of flowers, the family invites you to make a memorial donation to a cause close to his heart:Tunnel to Towers Foundation