Charles Walker Hayes

Charles Walker Hayes “Pappa”, 87, of Sterling, KS, passed on to eternity on July 20, 2018 at the Hospice House in Hutchinson, KS. Charles was born on July 3, 1931 in Hutchinson to Ray and Nellie Walker Hayes. He and his family moved to Sterling in 1943. Charles attended Sterling Schools, graduating with the class of 1949. There he met the love of his life Maxine. He enlisted in the Navy, serving with the Reserves on a ship off the East Coast. He married Maxine on October 12, 1952 in Newton, KS. She preceded him in death on November 15, 2015. They celebrated 63 years of marriage. He is survived by his son, Tim Hayes and Cindy of Vancouver, WA; daughter, Cynthia Morton of Sterling, KS; grandsons, Miles Morton and Madeline Curry of Sterling, and Steven Hayes of Vancouver, WA; granddaughter, Lauren Hayes of Honolulu, HI; sister-in-law’s, Shirley and John Reese of Lawrence, KS, Peggy Marlow of Eskridge, KS; brother-in-law, Keith Marlow of Grand Junction, CO, John Hazard and Sharon of Lyons, KS; many nephews and nieces; and his faithful cat Sparky II. He was preceded in death by his wife, Maxine; parents; sisters, Virginia Rouse and Betty Jayne Smoot; brother-in-law, Darold Marlow; and nephew, Allen Rouse. In high school Charles and ER Amend operated an auto repair business in Sterling, he then worked for DJ Fair Lumber Company. After serving in the Navy, Charles worked as a salesman for the Heinz Company. He then worked as a clerk for Michigan Pipeline (ANR) until retiring. Charles was founder of the Sterling Cablevision in the early 1980’s and was a local fix-it-man. He was a 65-year member of the Sterling Masonic Lodge, and was Lodge Master on eight different occasions; supervised the Sterling Easter Egg Hunt for 53 years; member of the Sterling First United Methodist Church; past president and board member for the Coronado Quivira Museum and the Sterling Public Library; chaplain and 40 year member of the Sterling American Legion; and was a member of the local coffee drinkers in Sterling and Alden. Cremation has taken place. Funeral services will be 2:00 P.M., Wednesday, July 25, 2018 at Sterling First United Methodist Church with Pastor Amy Foster and Pastor Rob Bolton officiating. Burial will be at the Sterling Community Cemetery with Masonic Rites and military honors by the Sterling American Legion Honor Guard. Visitation will be from 2:00 to 7:00 P.M., Tuesday, July 24, 2018 at the Birzer Funeral Home, Sterling with family present 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Friends of Animals Rice County, Alden Methodist Church, or Hospice House of Hutchinson in care of Birzer Funeral Home, Sterling.

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