Armender Hayes

Armender Hayes of Baytown went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on February 2, 2015. He was born in Beaumont, Texas on July 16, 1922 to Nora and Armender ""Juck"" Hayes. He grew up in Devers Texas where he attended school before joining the Texas National Guard in 1940 and received the Bronze Star while serving in World War II. Following the war he attended Sam Houston State and studied government and education. Upon graduation in 1948 he moved to Baytown and began teaching math at Baytown Junior High. He married Elizabeth Clawson in 1954 and their two sons, Richard and Brian, were born in 1956 and 1958. They joined Cedar Bayou United Methodist Church in 1962. He became Principal at James Bowie Elementary and in 1966 and moved to Cedar Bayou Junior High as the Principal in 1974. He greatly enjoyed working with the children he met through the school district and always seemed to remember them when he saw them again, even 40 or 50 years later. He finally retired from Cedar Bayou in 1984 after over thirty years in education. In retirement, he enjoyed traveling with Elizabeth and especially enjoyed their trips to Hawaii, Alaska, and Canada. Elizabeth died in 2005 after a long illness. He was a regular attendee at the senior dances in the area. His friends in the dancing community and his friends at the San Jacinto Hospital, where he ate breakfast almost every morning for 15 years, helped keep him going for many more years. He also had a special friend, Betty Myers, who he enjoyed spending time with. He continued to drive and travel to visit friends and family until the last few months of his life.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Elizabeth, brothers Bennie Earl, Clifton, Clennie, Calvin, sisters Mary Stayton, Callie Ora Hancock, and Dorothy Odiorne. He is survived by son Brian Hayes, his wife Tammy and their children Chance and Madison of Baytown, son Richard Hayes, his wife Janice and their children Bailey and Cooper of Austin, and many loving nieces and nephews.

Funeral services are scheduled for Saturday 10 AM at Cedar Bayou Grace Methodist Church with Rev. John Newsome officiating. A private burial will follow at White Cemetery in Highlands. Visitation will be Friday evening from 5-8 at Navarre Funeral Home.

Pallbearers will be Ernest Arcineagas, Bruce Clayton, Chance Hayes, Cooper Hayes, Dr. Shannon Kluppel, and Dr. Kenneth Lemmon. Honarary pallbearers are Ralph Greer, Mike Chalen, and remaining members of the 36th Division of the Texas National Guard.

The family would like to thank the staff at Swan Manor assisted living center where he was a resident the last months of his life.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that a book in his memory be place at the Baytown Sterling Public Library or a library of your choice.

To view his online obituary, or post a tribute to his family, go to www.navarrefuneralhome.com.

Arrangements are under the direction of Navarre Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 2444 Rollingbrook Drive Baytown, Texas, (281) 422-8111.