Jerry Hayes Sr.

KANNAPOLIS - Mr. Jerry Raymond Hayes Sr., 71, of 2227 Kenwood Drive, died Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2007, at the W.G. (Bill) Hefner VA Medical Center in Salisbury. Funeral services are scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday at Lady's Funeral Home Chapel. The Rev. Chris Pethel will officiate. Burial will follow at Carolina Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Friday at Lady's Funeral Home. At other times, the family will be at the home of a son, Michael Hayes, 2208 Woodcrest Drive, Kannapolis. Mr. Hayes was born July 17, 1935, in Kannapolis. He was a son of Conway Hayes of Concord and the late Virginia Edna Lowder Hayes. He was the owner and operator of Hayes Plumbing for 20 years before he retired in 1996. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, where he served in the 82nd and 101st Airborne and Army Rangers. He was a graduate of A.L. Brown High School where he played baseball as a left fielder and pitcher. He also played baseball while in service. His love of baseball brought him to become a coach for little league, as well as Babe Ruth league. Jerry was proud of all of his grandchildren and he was proud of his own service to his country. He had a special connection with his grandson, Kelvin Burton Jr., because of his service to his country. Kelvin is currently serving his country in Kirkuk, Iraq. In addition to his mother, he was preceded in death by his wife, Shirley Ann Draper Hayes, in 1988. Mr. Hayes is survived by his father, Conway Hayes of Concord; three sons, Jerry R. Hayes Jr. and Michael Hayes, both of Kannapolis, and L.J. Mason of Tampa, FL; three daughters, Cynthia R. Hayes of Conway, S.C., Connie H. Burton of Denver and Jennie Wyrick of Concord; sister, Betty Dixon of Kannapolis; nine grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. Lady's Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.