Obituary of Robert Hayes

B I O G R A P H Y HAYES: Robert William “Bob” Hayes passed away in the Dr. Cooke Extended Care Centre, Lloydminster, Alberta on Friday, October 5, 2007 at the age of 82 years. Bob is survived by: his loving wife of 60 years, Eddy; four children: Karen (Smokey) Ryder of Springford, Ontario; Gail (Harley) Beauregard of St. Albert, Alberta; Bardy (Renee`) Hayes of San Diego, California; Kirby (Mary) Hayes of Lloydminster; seven grandchildren, ten great grandchildren; one sister Mildred Hayes; two brothers: Norman Hayes and Jim (Marilyn) Hayes. Bob was predeceased by his parents Tom & Ruth Hayes, his sister Jean McGowan and one granddaughter Teena Louise Depew (Ryder). The celebration of life for Bob was conducted from the Grace United Church, Lloydminster, Alberta on Wednesday, October 10, 2007 at 10:00 A.M. with Reverend Harold Martin officiating. Gathering music was by Kirby Hayes. A eulogy was given by Bardy Hayes. Special music “Harvest Moon,” was sung by Kirby Hayes. Special music “Amazing Grace,” was sung by Rachel Fraser. The congregational hymn was “How Great Thou Art.” The Grace United Church Choir sang “We Shall Go Out With Hope of Resurrection.” The organist was Linda Anderson. The postlude was done by Syler Hayes. Honorary pallbearers were all of Bob’s Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren. The active pallbearer was Robbie Ryder (Eldest Grandchild). A private family interment followed in the Lloydminster City Cemetery. McCaw Funeral Service Ltd., of Lloydminster administered the funeral arrangements. Eulogy Mom has asked me to say a few words about my dad. Well to me Dad was larger than life so I hope you will pardon me if I paint a picture of him like that for you. Well firstly Bob was a worker - I guess in many ways work typified, or some may say even defined my Dad. He had a manic drive and an amazing capacity for hard work. This showed up in his very early life right through to near the end. I have heard stories about him keeping two or even three jobs in the early years up in Whitehorse. And even in those early days he started his first company - he bought an old truck and started a milk delivery service. Then as his various jobs became his career his dedication, focus and work hours stretched accordingly. Bob was blessed with an entrepreneurial and innovative mind that I think was evident from the start. Even the way he juggled all those early jobs showed a spirit of flexibility and adaptability. And he was a learner - never afraid to take on a new challenge or to try something new. Well maybe not anything new...I don’t think he ever tried a vehicle other than a Chevy, or oil other than Havoline. And I guess that points out a key quality - once he found something that worked he stuck to it. Why break what isn’t broken? And whatever he learned he would gladly teach - not in a proper classroom, maybe more like the school of hard knocks? And he taught by doing and by showing. And he continues to teach us even now. I don’t know where, but somewhere he learned a lesson that some business people just never get. My dad perfected the axiom that the “Customer is King”. Whether it was driving bus, delivering milk, selling farm implements or perforating oil wells, Bob’s customers not only respected him, but they also really liked him. The same could not be said of all the folks who sold to him, because Bob expected that same level of service from them! And when they didn’t deliver - whoooo! They heard about it!! So when Bob was out on his own, first with the Hayes Rock Picker manufacturing company and followed by Wescan Perforators he brought all those skills to bear. And the fruit of that was obvious to anyone who was watching. Bob was a friend... My dad worked hard and played hard - and he coffees hard! I am thinking that when news of his departure reaches Wall Street, coffee stocks will take a beating!! And through work, and play and coffee, Bob made many, many long time friends. And many of them are with us here today. Some of these friends he met when he first came to Lloydminster and were close to the end. These type of friends are only made the hard way - by loyalty and by being someone that could be counted upon. Bob was a father. Dad was old school in many ways, and he performed his role of father in that manner. He made his responsibility to his family a high priority and to him that meant working hard. He was never out of a job for more than one day since he married mom. In the early years he worked just to provide for his family’s most basic needs. But in later years that hard work also made possible many things that went well beyond. And this provision of his was a privilege to him. Although he was always very busy at work he always carved out the time required to help out - driving us to and from school on those nasty winter mornings, bundling all six of us into the cab of the pickup to drive to church all the way across Edmonton, moving Karen hither and yon, assisting Gail and Harley with their first house, driving me all over with my various high school rock bands - Marsden, Mannville, Vermilion, St. Walburg - and then coming to pick us up after the dance was over - usually at 2:00 or 3:00 on Sunday morning. And how he adored babies - all babies, little babies, big babies, skinny babies, fat babies but particularly his own grand babies. Just that sight of a baby was all it took to put a grin on his face and restore the twinkle to his eye. But the most significant contribution he made in our lives I think was the imparting of values. Honesty - even when it hurt, respect for others of all nationalities, the ethic of hard work, giving a straight answer to a straight question and his no nonsense approach to business and life at large. And he goes on teaching. At the top of the totem, Bob was a Husband. Mom and Dad were a team. Always were. No matter the activity or task, they were in it together. Now don’t get me wrong, Bob was always the captain - they were old school in this as well, but Mom embraced the role in what today would be considered very politically incorrect! And Dad responded to her compliance by including her in almost everything he did - although he was in a competitive bowling league, he also bowled with her in a couples league, the same with tennis - he was both her teacher AND her partner. With flying she was the navigator (now THAT is a scary thought!!) She served as secretary treasurer at Wescan. And man there were a LOT of LONG, LONG road trips with Mom at his side, head buried in a map. Then there was the dancing! I am sure many of you saw them on the dance floor - now that was pure poetry in motion. Kirby and Gail, how come you got all the dancing genes, and I got stuck with big ears? And finally, Bob the man... Who was Bob inside? Dad, like many men of his generation, didn’t wear his heart on his sleeve. After fulfilling his conviction to give us a church background when we were young, Dad didn’t exhibit much interest in the church. And I found out in my own self-righteousness immaturity that he sure didn’t want to talk about religion either! So perhaps he expressed his personal philosophy with his life. Honesty, hard work, integrity, no being a borrower, but lending when asked, responding to needs when friends or family called. Kirby I think put it best - Dad wasn’t into Theology, or even Philosophy - He was into Geology...He was down to earth! When reflecting on Dad - Bob I think we all want, and should, remember him in his hay day. Going 120 clicks on some highway, driving a bus, flying a plane, the Oilman of the Year, slaughtering some guy half his age on the tennis court - without breaking a sweat, laughing at a joke over coffee at Ollie’s, designing some widget on a paper napkin, always on his way some place, or having just returned from some place or planning to go some place... But my preference is to recall him nearer the end. When the hullabaloo had died down, when the roar of the Bonanza faded, the hum of rubber on asphalt was quieted, when the clamor of the calls for Dad to “fix it” had all ceased, and he could no longer get up and go...When the din was gone maybe he was able to hear that still small voice. When Mom read to him from the Bible, when he so enjoyed the chapel services and the hymn sings at the Doctor Cooke. So just maybe this past eighteen months, although painful in many ways, was indeed God’s grace, God’s amazing Grace giving Dad the time and the opportunity to make his peace and in the end to be at peace. Card Of Thanks The family wishes to express sincere thanks to the staff at the Dr. Cooke Extended Care Center for the loving care given to Bob during his stay there. Thank you to Reverend Harold Martin for his heartfelt service and to Kirby Hayes, Rachel Fraser and Linda Anderson for their beautiful music. Thank you to Bardy Hayes for the wonderful eulogy given at the service. The family would like to thank everyone for the food, flowers, cards and words of comfort during our difficult time. Thanks to McCaw Funeral Service for their kindness, guidance and support. Edna Hayes and family Donatinos may be made to the Dr. Cooke Patient Comfort Fund.