Ricky Dean Hair was born July 10, 1958, in Ulysses, Kansas, to Clifford and Johnetta Cora Hair.

Rick had three brothers; Cliff Lee. Monty and Rex. Rex was raised in Walsh where he spent many days on the farm with his siblings and dad feeding cattle and raising crops.

Rick attended Walsh School and graduated in 1976. His love for music started when he played drums in the high school band. He dreamed of playing on a big stage in front of a large audience. Rick, his brother along with some friends formed a garage band. They played at local venues, benefits for different causes and even appeared in a movie as a house band.

Rick met Nyla Hartley in 1993 and they had a relationship that lasted until he passed on April 28, 2026.

When Rick and Nyla met, Rick was working for Baca Glass which later became Baca Glass and Body. Rick performed pit repairs, windshield replacements, home and small projects of glass replacement, alignments and sand blasting. On weekends you could usually find him playing a “gig” somewhere. Music was probably his first love. Rick played drums as long as he could, arthritis took that away.

During Rick and Nyla’s time, he played with Blue Sage: Jim McKinley, Norman Fulbright, Ron Wait, Justin Lundy and at times Forrest Lundy. They played Christmases and New Years at the Cow Palace in Lamar. One year they entered Colorado Country Music Association’s Keeping Country Country Contest in Penrose, Colorado, with one extra member to their group Preston Wait. They won the traditional Western Group, quite the accomplishment for all the band members.

When Baca Glass and Body closed Rick purchased some of the glass equipment and the alignment and opened up A-1 Alignment and Glass for several years until health issues slowed him down.

One of the loves of Rick and Nyla’s was their animals of all kinds. Rick's love began at a young age while on the farm. Family pets always seemed to attach to Rick. His favorite was Cynthia, a palomino horse. Rick and Nyla had many animals over the years. Rick leaves behind his Aussie Corgi mix, 12-year-old Auggie. Nyla added Stevie Ray in September-October and Auggie absolutely loves her which helps.

They became experts at orphaned kittens, from as young as day old and up. Only lost 1 who had a congenital defect. As many as 5 in one litter, maybe 1 week old. Rick said that was tough. We have 5 indoor, outdoor cats, all rescues. And then the garage cats, Binks and Emmie, then the ones who have adopted us. Rick always concerned for all during the winter months, feeding and sheltering. We also raised horses and goats. Our goats quickly became 13.

Then the fishing trips. Rick and Nyla’s 1st fishing trip together turned into a contest. It was at Trinidad Lake. The lake was low so the moss was thick. Rick wanted to rig up Nyla’s pole, this wasn’t happening. When Nyla got a bite Rick was there to assist, denied again. She pulled in 2 good sized trout and a jumbled mess of moss and everything else. Nyla again let Rick know she could do it herself. This all started the rule; no one can put their pole in the water until everyone is ready. From here there were many fishing stories and there were many.

There were trips to see the kids. One trip stopped at the Grand Canyon, the big hole in the ground. It was much more than we expected. Two hours of looking at the same area with awe and amazement and the huge meteor crater on the way back home.

There was Country Jam in Grand Junction, many times, many artists, many songs. Rick loved these times.

They had many adventures together and many memories until Rick’s health spiraled out of control. He was flown out in critical condition and sent to Memorial in the Springs, was on a ventilator then he had to have a tracheostomy done. He was eventually sent to Aurora to Kindred Respiratory Rehab. For almost 6 months he never knew who Nyla was, seriously thought he would never make it home. At Thanksgiving she went up to see Rick, he saw me and told the nurses, “I bet Nyla brought me a pumpkin pie.” I was shocked he knew my name let alone wanted a pumpkin pie. They told me he woke up that morning, he was alert, oriented, upbeat and positive. Yes, she went to the store and bought him a pumpkin pie. He was sent to Encompass Rehab in the Springs 2 days later. Two weeks later he came home, walked all the way from the pickup, up the stairs and all the way to his bedroom. Rick’s memory never failed him, from when he came home till he passed. He got up every day, rode a recumbent bike over 2 miles daily. He stopped 2 years later because he couldn’t see progress, not seeing that he was staying active.

He never did play his drum again. For Christmas 2025 he got electronic drums he played for about 2 weeks, and his hands swelled up so he put his drumsticks down.

Everywhere Rick went he had no trouble making friends.  Although his friends were many there were a select few he held closer to his heart.

Rick will be missed by his life partner, Nyla Hartley and his children and her children. Nyla gained 3 bonus kids, Trina Bechtel and children, Randy Hair (Becca) and son, Shandra Hair (Ryan Flannigan) and children.

Rick leaves 2 brothers, Cliff Lee Hair and Cullen and Rex Hair.

Rick gained 3 bonus kids. Alisa Wallace and sons, Cade and Jonathan, Cagen (LaKenzie), Cauy, Shea Spires (Mike) and children, McKenna Lowe (Tony) and children, Anthony, Oliver and Theo. Luke Spires, Logan, Madison and Landon. Ryan Hartley, (Angela) and children, Hunter, Finn and Levi.

He will also be missed by numerous cousins, aunts and uncles, nephews and nieces, brothers-in- law and sisters-in-law, you get the picture!

Signing out Rick Hair, Drummer Extraordinaire, Proud Member of the Cherokee Nation.