Hayes was 81 years old when he succumbed to mesothelioma on Jan. 25, 2007. Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is almost always caused by previous exposure to asbestos.
"I doing good," said his wife, Jane, this afternoon from her home in the Hickory Hill community. "I miss him but I'm doing good. You know, you just do the best you can."
The couple had seven children between them, including Jane Hayes' son, Randy Saunders, who lives in the Westgate subdivision off Gautier-Vancleave Road.
"He helped me an awful lot when Bob was sick," the mother said. She said Bobby Hayes' death was tough on her son, but he also is doing well.
"He was a step-son, but, boy, I don't know what I would have done without him," said Jane Hayes.
Last week, Hayes brought flowers to First Baptist Church of Gautier in memory of her husband's death and the Jan. 14 birthday of her daughter, Ardeth Files of Garland
, Texas, who died of cancer four years ago. The flowers had remained alive in the church, where the couple met 25 years ago.
"They were still in church today," Jane Hayes said. "When I walked in and saw them, I said 'Oh.' It really got me."
Bobby Hayes, involved in numerous civic activities, was known as founder of the Gautier Mullet Festival, a fall event held each October, and now directed by Anna Simpson with support from the city of Gautier. 2009 marks the festival's 19th year.
Hayes particiapted in personal and citywide clean ups, and was a staunch defender of children and submarine veterans. He had been an assistant teacher, and he belonged to the Tullibase Base Chapter of United States Submarine Veterans Inc.
Jane Hayes said the Mississippi Magnolia Chapter of the Submarine Veterans of World War II folded after Hayes died. He was state commander of the chapter and was Southeast regional director.
"He was the last active surviving member," she said. "A lot of the chapters are having to fold because the World War II veterans are passing."
Following Bobby Hayes' death the city of Ocean Springs planted a tree in his honor near the WWII Submarine Veterans Memorial located at the Mississippi Vietnam Veterans Memorial on U.S. 90. Mayor Connie Moran presented a plaque inscribed with the words "on eternal patrol."
Jane Hayes, who provided the words, said he husband had lost a fellow submariner, Al Hammond, during October 2006. Hammond was member of the Magnolia Chapter and had provided the designs for memorials in Ocean Springs honoring both submarine veterans and their wives. She the statue for submarine wives is the only such memorial in the country.
The Gautier City Council named the city's first KaBOOM! playground for Hayes. The park is located in Hickory Hill as part of amenities added to a Habitat for Humanity housing development off north Martin Bluff Road, near the Hayes' home.
Jane Hayes said more Habitat houses have been built near the park since it was initially installed by numerous volunteers in late January two years ago. She said the park and additional homes are nice.
"I know he would have been awful proud of the park," she said.
No comments:
Post a Comment