Mr. Lee Roy Hayes, age 98, went to be with The Lord on Friday, October 4, 2013 at UniHealth Post-Acute Care, Elkin, NC. Mr. Hayes was born in Surry County on May 8, 1915 to Granville Webster and Edith Masten Hayes. Mr. Hayes was the first employee to retire from Chatham Manufacturing Company of Elkin with over 50 years of service. He was a Supervisor in the Spinning Department. He took pride in his work and maintained a strong work ethic which he also expected of those in his department. He had a second job as a rural mail carrier for many years. He loved people and missed contact with friends after retirement. He began working part time at Wagoner's Mens Wear and later at Cooper's Mens Wear, jobs which gave him satisfaction as he greeted customers. Mr. Hayes was a devoted Christian man with high ideals. He was a Deacon and Sunday School Class teacher at Elkin Valley Baptist Church and supported all mission work. He and his wife Reba were baptized together as they began their marriage of 80 years on October 28, 1933! He was a loving husband and father to his children. He enjoyed hunting, trout fishing, gardening, yard work, and was an avid golfer until health issues forced him to stop in his late nineties! In addition to his parents, Mr. Hayes was preceded in death by his son David Lee Hayes of Tawas, Michigan and by three sisters: Betty Parrish of Madison, Tennessee, Opal Cockerham of Elkin, and Mae Choate of Sparta. Mr. Hayes is survived by his loving wife, Reba Pauline White Hayes; by his daughter Ann Garner and husband Andy of State Road; by his Daughter-in-Law Mary Hayes of Tawas, Michigan; by two sisters, Helen Swain of Elkin and Edith Hemric and husband Jim of Ronda; and by many loving nieces and nephews. Mr. Hayes is survived by 5 Grandchildren: Terry Patterson and wife Julia of Hays; Danny Hayes and wife Monta of Durand, Michigan; Jennifer Hall and husband Johnny of State Road; Gretchen Kirkman and husband Treva of Mount Airy; and Scott Hollar and wife Amber of Cary. Mr. Hayes is survived by 9 Great Grandchildren: Jessica McLean and husband Kyle of Columbia, SC; Emily Wing and husband Brian of Charlotte; Luke Patterson of Charlotte; Jordan Hayes of Durand, Michigan; Mary Frances Hall of State Road; Harrison Hall of State Road; Lily Kirkman of Mount Airy; Rose Kirkman of Mount Airy; and Anniston Hollar of Cary. The family will receive friends on Wednesday evening, October 9, from 6:00 until 8:00 pm at Elkin Funeral Service. A funeral service will be conducted at Elkin Valley Baptist Church on Thursday, October 10, at 4:00 pm with Dr. Johnny Blevins and Elder Ambrose Gomillion officiating. Final respects can be made for 30 minutes prior to the service. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. Fellow golfers, a nephew, and close friends will serve as pallbearers. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Elkin Valley Baptist Church, 118 North Elkin Drive, Elkin, NC 28621 for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, a missions program which was special to Mr. Hayes. The family would like to thank family and friends who have been so faithful to visit and remember Mr. And Mrs. Hayes during two years of extended illness; CNAs Vanessa Gomillion, Carol Collins, Christine Mabe, and Carol Brayboy for their loving care; Mountain Valley Hospice Transition and Dr. Bill Johnson for their continued support; the loving residents and staff at Elkin Victorian Assisted Living for his care while there; and the wonderful staff at UniCare Post-Acute Care for their devotion and ministry to Mr. Hayes during stays there, especially in his last days of illness and at his death. We offer heartfelt thanks to everyone who has supported this family over the years! God bless each of you! With special thanks, Services are entrusted to Mr.Hayes' loving Grandson Terry Patterson and the staff at Elkin Funeral Services.
