Rykar Hazen

Rykar Thomas Hazen

On Sunday, April 29, 2018, a beautiful spring day, our son and brother, Rykar Thomas Hazen (Hoser Jr.) passed away in a tragic car accident outside of Phoenix, Arizona at age 34. He and the driver were both killed instantly. When we received the news, our hearts were broken and will never be the same.

Rykar was born August 2, 1983 in Ogden, UT to Bruce Dean and Jody Facer Hazen. He grew up in West Point, UT until his parents moved to Layton, UT when he was 16 years old. Rykar was a darling little boy with blonde curly hair, which he liked more than anyone else, to the point of obsession. He graduated from Layton High School in 2002. He played tennis and had many friends who loved to just hang out at his home. The highlight of his high school years was and always will be the Wolf Pack. At age 5, Rykar’s youngest brother, Cooper, became an honorary member of the Wolf Pack.  Rykar needs no introduction/explanation for those of you that knew him. For those that didn't, he was a gentle soul, kind hearted, and one of the most caring individuals you would ever meet. Always one to look you in the eye, genuinely listen, and help any way he could.

He was ordained an Elder in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 2002 and served an honorable mission for two years in the Santo Domingo East Mission. As he began to learn the Dominican language, he also learned to love the Dominican people. So much so, that he began to see himself as Dominican/American. Watching the people there, living in profound and simple ways, began his journey of love. He often felt broken in his inability to serve and help them in the capacity he desired. After he returned home, his desire to love, serve and help them began this mission of love. Yes, Rykar, broken is beautiful. You are beautiful.

His love of the people, the language, and especially the climate led him to Arizona. When visiting Utah, no matter the season, he lived in beanies and slippers. He lived in many homes around the Phoenix area. His desire was for everyone to feel at home in his home, and he felt at home in their home. We believe this came from his love for the poor and began his love for the homeless. He received his certificate for Spanish Bilingual Assistant at Maricopa Integrated Health Systems . He received a technical degree in Magnetic Resonance Imaging in 2011. He worked as an MRI technician at Banner Health, Medical Imagery Solutions and Staffing, and Gateway MRI Centers. He volunteered at the hospital doing various things for many years.

His hobbies were riding his motorcycle, dirt biking, pickleball, playing pool and ping-pong, buying drinks for strangers, giving food to the hungry and his home for the homeless. He LOVED spending one on one time with his family in Utah and his family in Phoenix. He didn’t have friends, he only had family, because everyone he met became family. He LIKED spending time at the Hazen cabin at Hebgen Lake, but he LOVED spending time with his Hazen cousins. The Facer cousins were never really cousins, they were his brothers and sisters.

Cooper never left Rykar’s side until he left on his mission. Trevor never left his side after his mission. Now Trevor, McCalle (his only sister) and her husband Dan Vera, and Cooper will stand together by his side to continue his mission. Through their giving, Rykar will keep living. #givelikerykar.

Rykar was greeted in death by his loving grandparents, Jack and Ada Hazen, and Great Grandpa William Thomas (whom he is named after) and Ida Louise Armstrong, and five friends that we know he is connecting with in heaven as he begins his new mission. He is survived by his parents Bruce and Jody Hazen, two brothers and sister, a niece Hadlee Mae and a nephew, Briggs Dean Hazen. He is presently living with his niece, who will join our family here on earth to Dan and McCalle in October. He is survived by his grandparents, Redmond Fay and Shirley Facer, who loved him dearly as he loved them and many close cousins on both sides of the family.

Funeral services will be held Monday May 7, 2018 at the LDS Kays Creek Stake Center, 2680 E. Cherry Lane, Layton, Utah.  Friends may visit with family Sunday, May 6, 2018 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Lindquist’s Layton Mortuary, 1867 No. Fairfield Rd, Layton, Utah and Monday from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. at the church.  Interment, Uintah Cemetery, 1550 E. 6450 S. Uintah, Utah.

The Hazen family has been absolutely encompassed with pain as their hearts were broken on Sunday and equally as overwhelmed with the love shown as the healing process begins. We love you all dearly, as does our beautiful boy, Rykar. “We are family! Soar...Cujo… Soar… Your wings are broken no more.”

Give Like Rykar- www.youcaring.com/givelikerykar