Thomas Earl Hayes died July 27 at Shelby Baptist Hospital after battling prostate cancer.
Tom was born to Alonzo and Mary Hayes on Oct. 9, 1934. He and his brothers Curtis, Johnny, Donald, AW and Carl, spent their childhood in the Alabama countryside working on the family farm.
After graduating from Maplesville High School, Tom joined the Army Air Corp, as a paratrooper, then transferred into the newly formed Air Force. After 26 years of service to his nation he retired from the Air Force as a senior master sergeant. As he put it he “kicked around for a bit” keeping busy at odd jobs that took him from Montana to North Carolina always enjoying his love of hunting, fishing, history, and visiting old friends.
Eventually Tom returned to Maplesville, where he reunited with Joyce Trent, his first love. This relationship completed the circle of his life. He went around the world, created a loving family of his own and then settled down in a lasting companionship with Joyce.
Tom is survived by his children, Richard (Miami, Fla.), John Michael (Seattle), Alison (Las Vegas) and Jeffrey (Pasco, Wash.) and five grandchildren which he enjoyed visiting greatly. He is also survived by his loving brother, Carl, and faithful cousins, WC and Joyce Hayes and Betty Wells.
A memorial service with military honors will be held at Sardis Baptist Church today at 10 a.m.