Eva Brown Hayes

NORTHPORT - Eva Brown Hayes, age 94, of Northport, entered her eternal home on April 6, 2016, at Hospice of West Alabama. Services will be held Sunday, April 10, 2016, at 3:00 p.m. at Sunset Funeral Home with visitation preceding the service from 2:00-3:00 p.m. Rev. Ben Jameson and Rev. Alfred Banks will officiate and burial will follow at Memory Hill Gardens with Sunset Funeral Home, a Dignity Memorial Provider, directing.

Born January 29, 1922, in Echola, Alabama, Eva was the daughter of Luther and Allie Brown and had one sister, Evie Coker. She married Walter Hayes in 1943, and Northport eventually became their home. Walter and Eva enjoyed a wonderful 63-year marriage until his death in 2007.

She is survived by their son, Tom Hayes and his wife, Sheila and by their daughter, Sharron Hayes Stone and her late husband, Tim Stone, all of Northport. They were blessed with one grandson, Walt Hayes of Northport. Eva loved her extended family dearly, including five nieces and two nephews, and a host of descendants from their families. She is also survived by her treasured friend since childhood, Cile Kauchick.

A gentle woman of godly grace, Eva was known by her soft spoken humility and kind, loving spirit. She grew up during the depression years and learned an appreciation for all tha tGod had given her. She was the epitome of the homemaker image of the 1950's - with her crisply-starched dress, wonderful meals on the stove, manicured yard with blooming flowers, and always a sewing project on her Singer sewing machine.

Eva's hard work ethics, partnered with those of Walter's, led to the success of several business endeavors. In 1961, they built the Catalina Motel, where their family lived and worked for 11 years. A few years later they built Ace Hardware in Northport, which they owned and operated until 1975.

She treasured the daily visits from her devoted children, Tommy and Sharron. She loved her Five Points Baptist Church family and cherished every visit, card, and prayer. The Christian legacy that she left her children provides peace that their mother is at home with her Heavenly Father and loved ones, as well as the assurance that they will one day be reunited.

Eva was preceded in death by her husband, Walter L. Hayes; son-in-law, Tim Stone; parents, Luther and Allie Brown; sister, Evie Coker; and niece, Linda Lawson.

Pallbearers are Walt Hayes, Cary Crawford, Charles Coker, Sonny Coker, Bert Elliott, Charles Perkins, Bill Kincaid, and Shannon Coker.

Honorary pallbearers are Lucille Kauchick and family, Five Points Baptist Church family, staff of Forest Manor, Donald, Randall and Donald employees, Dr. Steve Lovelady and Summer Beasley.

Eva was an avid gardener and loved flowers, but she would be very honored to know that instead of flowers, memorials were made to her home church to provide care for the cemetery where so many of her loved ones are buried.

Memorials may be sent to Dunn's Creek Cemetery Fund, c/o Frances Brown, 17477 Brown Dairy Road, Elrod, AL 35458.