Roy Edward Hayes, 91, Dixon, passed away Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021, at Phelps Health, Rolla.
He was born June 23, 1929, to Homer Eugene and Neva Marie (Ramsey) Hayes, at St. Louis.
He was united in marriage to Melva Darlene Rollins, Dec. 16, 1950, at Harrison, Ark.
Roy served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. He was a member of Wheeler Church of Christ in Dixon and Teamsters Local in Granite City, Ill., and a former member of the Dixon Lions Club. He was an over-the-road truck driver, first as an auto transport driver and later as a driver for Coca-Cola. Along with his cousin, Stanley Hayes, he founded Hayes Ford Sales in Dixon in 1955 and later became owner and operator of the dealership prior to selling it in 1970. He then, along with cousin, Jim Hayes, founded Hayes Mobile Home Sales in Rolla and later became a full-time truck driver, to retiring in 2003.
He was preceded in death by parents, Homer and Neva; wife, Darlene; infant daughter, Lanna Sue Hayes; brothers, Gerald V. Hayes and Norman “Pat” Hayes; and sister, Loretta Hayes Williams.
He is survived by children, Randal Hayes of Dixon, Bradley Hayes of St. Louis and Sandra Hayes of Dixon; brother, Wesley Hayes and wife Velma of Vienna; and two granddaughters.
Visitation will be Saturday, Jan. 16, from 10-11 a.m. with funeral services following with Roy’s cousin, Rev. Karen Alden of Woodland United Methodist Church in Rocheport, officiating, all in the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Chapel in Dixon. Interment with full military honors will be in Wheeler Cemetery in Dixon. Memorial contributions suggested to Fair Haven’s Children’s Home or St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.
