Karen Elizabeth Bridges Hayes

Karen Elizabeth Bridges Hayes left us on January 30th, 2024, just four months after losing her husband. She was born to Russell and Mary Seavey Bridges in Rochester, NH on December 20th, 1941. Her family hailed from Kennebunkport and Wells Maine, and she grew up in Wells around a wonderful large family of aunts, uncles, and many cousins on both sides. She graduated from Wells High School a year early having skipped the 8th grade and was valedictorian of her class of 1959. She met her husband, John, in kindergarten in Wells and married him in 1960. In 1968, the family moved to Baton Rouge where Karen went on to graduate from LSU in Education and she taught in the EBR public school system for many years. She also at times worked in private business doing payroll and purchasing.

She shared her husband’s passion in the LSU Track & Field officials association for many years. Karen was a member of the Baton Rouge Jaycee Jaynes and with her husband was very active in the JCI Senate until just last year. She made many lifelong friends with these groups. Karen was an insatiable reader and she spent hours and hours reading and had quite a book collection. She loved to paint and do ceramics, knit, and sew. She loved music and played piano and accordion.

She was preceded in death by her parents Russell and Mary, her husband John, and her son Michael.

She is survived her brother, Jeffrey Bridges (Debby), daughter, Stephanie Gervais (Ron); her son, Christopher Hayes (Laurie); four grandchildren, Jillian Cox, John “Trey” Cox (Benita); Tyler Hayes and Peyton Hayes; seven great grandchildren, Skylar, Leo, Kawhi, Ky-mani, Kayliyah, Kyler, and Kourtney and one great great granddaughter, Camryn.

The family will have a gathering at a later date. Interment will be at Ocean View Cemetery, Wells Maine in the summer.

Memorial donations can be made to the LSU Track Officials Association, Athletic Administration Building, Baton Rouge, LA 70803.