Francis Eugene (Gene) Hayes
Francis Eugene (Gene) Hayes, age 70 of Knox City, MO, died Sunday, March 16, 2014, at his home in Knox City, MO.
He was born October 6, 1943, in Knox County, MO, the son of Francis Marion and Mable Margaret (McKenzie Hayes.
He was a member of the Bee Ridge Methodist Church and later moved his membership to the United Methodist Church of Knox City, MO.
On May 24, 1964, he was united in marriage to Helen Louis Watson in Knox City, MO and to that union two children were born, a daughter Nancy Louise Stice and husband Larry of Lewistown, MO, and a son Michael Eugene Hayes and wife Angie of Knox City, MO, two grandchildren Nikki Routt and husband J.R. Routt of Lewistown, MO and Ashley Hultz and husband Chris Hultz of Lewistown, MO, five great grandchildren, Jenna and Levi Routt and Coleman, Alayna and Dominic Hultz.
On May 16, 2004, at Knox City, MO he was united in marriage to Tracy Crain who survives of Knox City, MO. Also surviving are one step son, Jamie Fernandez of Knox City, MO, and a step daughter Amanda Golden Mauzior and husband Mario of Kansas City, MO, one step grandchild Tyler Greisbaum of Champaign, IL, one sister Helen Marie Oldfather of Edina, MO, one brother William F. (Bill) Hayes and wife Carol of Knox City, MO and several nieces and nephews.
Gene was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, an infant Donald Lee Hayes and Charles Richard Hayes and one brother-in-law Harry Pearl Oldfather.
Gene was raised west of Knox City, MO and lived in Knox City for fifty years. He had been employed by Verlin Tonnies and then John C. Miller as a farmhand. He then worked twenty years at Electric Wheel in Quincy, IL. In 1983 he became a self employed carpenter and worked out of Herzog Lumber Co. of Knox City, MO. He was known for his love of fishing and gardening and he shared his bounty with his family and friends.
Funeral services were held 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 19, 2014, at the Hudson-Rimer Funeral Home in Edina, MO. Reverend Doug Wilson officiated the services. Burial was in the Bee Ridge Cemetery southeast of Edina, MO. Casket bearers were Larry Hubble, John Clauson Miller, Robert Hubble, Todd Goodwin, Mark Klocke, Andrew Parrish and Derek Sayres.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of Northeast MO. Memorials may be left at or mailed to Hudson-Rimer Funeral Home, P.O. Box 1, Edina, MO 63537.
