John H. Hayward

CHARLESTON, IL – John Henry Hayward, age 87 of Charleston, entered his Heavenly Home on Sunday, December 31, 2017 while at Mattoon Health Care and Rehab Center.  Visitation will be held from 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, January 6, 2018 at First Baptist Church located at 2800 University Drive in Charleston.  Funeral Services honoring and celebrating his life will begin at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday with Mr. Verlin Alderton and Pastor Chris Prater officiating.  Burial will follow in Roselawn Cemetery, Charleston.  It is requested that thoughtful donations in his honor be made to First Baptist Church.  Gifts may be left at the visitation or service or mailed in care of Adams Funeral Chapel, 2330 Shawnee Dr., Charleston, IL 61920.

John was born June 27, 1930 in Lakewood, Illinois, a son of the late Frank and Fern (Austin) Hayward.  He married C. Rovene (Diehl) Myers on March 15, 1969 and they celebrated 47 years of marriage prior to her death on December 24, 2016. He is survived by a daughter, Kathy Mills and husband Tom of St. Elmo, Illinois; two stepdaughters, Debbie McNamer and husband Mike and Cathy Frazier, all of Charleston; 9 grandchildren, Tom (Karen) Frazier and Beth (Kevin) Wood, all of Lerna, Illinois, Sonya (Kevin) Johnson of Decatur, Illinois, Steve (Amanda) McNamer of Collinsville, Illinois, Scott (Laura) McNamer of O’Fallon, Missouri, Darin Mills of St. Elmo, Deanna (Henry) Heiser of Altamont, Illinois, Amy (Charles) Bright of San Antonio, Texas and Chuck (Shannon) Dilley of Sullivan, Illinois; 17 great-grandchildren, Chase McGuire, Whitley Wood, McKinley Wood, Lucas McNamer, Addison McNamer, Olivia McNamer, Isabelle McNamer, Zachary McNamer, Akina Heiser, Wade (Lacie) Heiser, Alexis Heiser, Khail Heiser, Trey Culver, Laura Culver, Jacob Bright, Aubrey Dilley and Carter Dilley; a great-great-grandson, Ramsey Heiser; and a sister, Ruby Wheat of Shelbyville, Illinois.  In addition to his parents and wife, John was preceded in death by a daughter, Carol Dilley and a brother, Noel Hayward.

John was a 1948 graduate of Shelbyville High School.  He was in charge of the automotive parts department at Downtown Ford in Mattoon for many years and in 1981 helped to establish and was part owner of Thompson Collision Parts located in Charleston.  John was actively involved and a faithful member of the First Baptist Church in Charleston serving as a deacon and trustee.  He was instrumental in overseeing the building of the church’s new addition.

Many will remember John as a distributor and representative of Shaklee Products.  His hobby of woodworking resulted in many items which were gifted to the church and his family.  He enjoyed most the designing, creating and building of numerous birdhouses.  John also enjoyed traveling, especially with Rovene, and many fond memories were created during their camping trips and family vacations.  John will be remembered as a man of faith who loved his family dearly.