Walter F. Hayes, 87, Mt. Vernon, passed away at 6:49 a.m. Jan. 11, 2008, at St. Mary's Good Samaritan Hospital in Mt. Vernon.

He was born in Doniphan, Mo., on Sept. 27, 1920, the son of Steve and Della (House) Hayes.

He married Annetta Decker on Sept. 2, 1939, in Princeton, Ind., and she survives in Mt. Vernon.

He was a car salesman for Jefferson Motors.

Funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Monday at Osborn Funeral Home in Dix with Kenneth Holland officiating. Burial will be in Bethel Cemetery in Mt. Vernon with graveside military rites by American Legion Post 141 of Mt. Vernon.

Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

In addition to his wife, Walter is survived by three sons, Walter T. "Bub" Hayes and wife Tracey, Gary R. Hayes and wife Phyllis of Mt. Vernon and Jeffery Lynn Hayes of Mt. Vernon; daughters Barbara Payne and husband Connie of Mt. Vernon, Thelma Parrish and husband Kenneth of Scottsdale, Ariz., Carolyn Badgett and husband Gary of Mt. Vernon, Janet Sandy and husband Jerry of Mt. Vernon, Mert Hayes and friend Wayman Harland of Mt. Vernon and Sunday McKenzie and husband Richard of Mt. Vernon; 21 grandchildren, three step-grandchildren, 43 great-grandchildren and one step great-grandchild and 10 great-great-grandchildren and one step great-great-grandchild; brothers, J.C. Hayes, Jake Hayes, Marvin Hayes and Robbie Hayes, all of Mt. Vernon; and sisters, Wanda Michell, Irene Madlin, Marie Pierce, Barbara Jean Graham and Phyllis Crowe, all of Mt. Vernon.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Stevie Hayes; a sister, Betty Brumley; two infant twin granddaughters, Judy and Jane Hayes; and one great-great-grandchild, Anessa Sutehrland-Orange.

Walter attended Jefferson County schools and was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II. He was of the Protestant Faith.

For those who wish, memorials may be made to First Church of God and received at Osborn Funeral Home, P.O. Box 130, Dix, Ill., 62830.

Source: Mount Vernon Register News
Date: January 2008
Submitted by Kiowana Hayes Ferguson