Three years since you've been gone, Papa. Your little bud thinks about you randomly and often. Sometimes it feels like I can just scroll down to your contact on my phone and call you. 

You'd get a good laugh out of all the ways I'm more like you now. There are always animals under my feet, laying with me, and begging for goodies. They're my buddies until I start tripping over them, then I really turn into you and start yelling about the damn dogs always being under my feet. 

You would have loved spending time with your little Double-G. She's four now and she's a pistol. You would have just liked listening to her babble and laugh, and I know you would have handed the mantle of "Smartest Person in the Family" from me to her. I have the picture of you holding her on your lap framed on the wall by her door. She looks at it sometimes and says "That's Papa!" and that makes me smile. 

I miss you a lot, and I try my best to live up to how you always thought of me. Most of all, I try to be happy, and I am. So I hope that would have kept making you happy too. I love you, Papa.

Looking among my new emails this morning and saw a remembrance day reminder which actually brought tears to my eyes. While I didn't see grandpa all the time. As I got older the visits became more rare. I regret now more than ever that I had grown apart from grandpa so much. He was always so soft spoken and kind to me. I remember as a child I was running all over his backyard and around his Koi pond. I was so excited because he said that he would let me feed the Koi. Yippie, so when it was time feed them, he yelled my name and I came running from the other end of the back yard. As I came running up to him I slipped, fell, and slid right into his Koi pond.
He just laughed at me and said, why didn't you put on your scuba gear first. 
I think about him often. One day I will see him again.
I love you Grandpa Hayes.

I am saddened to hear that my cousin Leslie has passed on.  I have been blessed to have so many wonderful cousins and Leslie definitely falls in that group.  Prayers for friends and family and may  he rest in peace.

Where do I begin.  I truly do not remember the very first time we met Les but, I do know that when we did, Keith & I both thought - Wow - this guy is great and just what Linda needs.  Apparently we were right because as the years slipped by the two of you simply grew closer and closer.  I know how hard it is to lose the one you have loved so much and for so long.  As I told you when we spoke, time does not heal this hurt but the patch we have to put on our broken heart will help to make it softer.  My  love to you Linda and the family.  May Les rest in the arms of our loving Lord and Savior.
Georgia


So many memories from our family and yours. Your mom. My grandparents and my father.   Thinking of you and your family.

Love,  Debby

Papa,
There are too many memories to put here and all too precious to pick just one or two. Mornings together watching Roadrunner, dominos, math homework, golf, Furs, the dogs, the cats, football, and so much more. 

I'm not upset that I couldn't say goodbye. You wouldn't have wanted me to see you like that. I AM upset that I couldn't say "thank you." For everything. 

I am lucky. So lucky to have had you as such a major presence in my life. I wish my daughter could have had more time to spend with you too because you would have loved watching her grow up.

I love you Papa. I know you'll be with me always in my memories. 

Forever your little buddy, your button, your granddaughter. 

He was an amazing kind man whom I always viewed as sort of larger than life. As a grandfather he always had a kind word for me and always greeted me with open arms, and not to mention always sent me the coolest birthday cards. As a small child it was always his cards that I would wait by the mailbox for every holiday and birthday that passed me by. Over the years I didn't see him or talk to him nearly as much as I should have or wanted, but it makes the loss of him no less painful. He will be with his son ( Leslie Russell Hayes Jr., my late father) now. May God be kind to both of their souls. 
I hope he is getting to play the golf game he always dreamed of now in the kingdom of Jehovah. I love you Grandpa, I wish I could have said goodbye. My heart goes out to you Linda and God Bless you. When this virus is gone I will come to visit if you don't mind the company for an afternoon.
I LOVE YOU GRANDPA. YOU WILL ALWAYS BE MISSED. 
AND PLEASE TELL MY DADDY HI FOR ME TOO.

LOVE ALWAYS, 
MISTY DAWN HAYES

I hired out in 97 and Mr Hayes  was one of the fellows I worked with. I enjoyed that,all his storys, knowledge about railroading  and his music playing and singing.  Well Buddy you finally hit the big lotto brother. You be nice up there Mr Hayes, see you later.

Brother , Mom sent  you to the golf course when you were 16 so you could caddy and earn some spending money . Little did she know how much in love you would be with that game ! When she put us to work waxing those hardwood floors , you got mad and ran away from home . Three days later , she said to me ,” come on  , let’s go get your brother “,   We went to the golf course and you were staying in the groundskeepers shed .  I don’t remember if we finished the floors or not ! I have a ton of memories , you and I , Mom and Dad , Alabama ! God Bless you Bubba ! I am so sorry that we were not closer in the last 30 years , but so honored that we got back together before it was too late ! Hurt that I wasn’t able to be with you durning your time in the hospital , and now while you make your final trip ! Enjoy your reunion with all the folks , and save a spot for me at the table . I love you Bubba ! God Bless you !    Your little brother , Billy

OBITUARY

Leslie R. Hayes

November 24, 1938 – January 24, 2021

Rosewood Funeral Chapel

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