Larry Ernest Hayes

Granite Falls – Larry Ernest Hayes, age 59, passed away on Saturday, January 3, 2015, at Caldwell Hospice & Palliative Care. Larry was born in Catawba County on March 7, 1955, to the late Ernest Hayes and Reva Hayes Tunmire. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his step-father, Thad Tunmire. He was married to Susan Armfield Hayes. Larry was a member of Dry Ponds Baptist Church. He was active in children’s and bus ministries. He worked for 25 years with the City of Lenoir Recreation Department but spent his final year working as the site director for Community in Schools at Hudson Middle School, a position he called the “job of his life”. He began his career working and coaching at Norfolk Catholic High School and Norfolk Public Schools in Norfolk, VA. He was an avid golfer, fisherman, and gardener, and he loved the Maryland Terrapins. Other than his wife, Susan, he is survived by his brother, David Hayes and wife, Lori; sister, Joanne Jennings and husband, Ken; nieces and nephews, Mike Hayes and wife, Jennifer; Andrew Hayes; Lauren Clark; Scott Jennings and wife, Jessiejane; Will Clark and wife, Tabitha and their son, Brooks; aunts, Lib Hobson; Martha Bolick; Betty Johnson; uncle, Jack Shively; cousin, Kim Aiello;and his long-time friend, Mike Swanson. A celebration of Larry’s life will be held at Dry Ponds Baptist Church on Wednesday, January 7, 2015, at 2:00 with Dr. Rick Crouse, Reverend Don Ingle, Reverend Josh Dellinger, and Reverend Linda Kelly officiating. The family will receive friends at Dry Ponds Baptist Church on Tuesday, January 6, 2015, from 6:00 until 7:30. The family respectfully requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be sent to the Bus Ministry, c/o Dry Ponds Baptist Church, 5235 Union Church Road, Granite Falls, NC 28630. Online condolences may be sent to the Hayes family at www.evansfuneralservice.com Evans Funeral Service & Crematory is serving the Hayes family.