Eric Edwin Hayes

Hayes, Eric Edwin 19 April 1971 - 26 April 2011 Beloved only son, big broth- er, first grandson, engaging nephew, cool cousin, and special friend. Died at home in Mpls in the company of his parents and sister after a courageous 11-month battle with bile duct cancer. Born in Urbana, IL, and at age one moved to MN where he spent the rest of his life. Learned to talk and read in SE Mpls, attended elementary and jr. high school in St. Peter; graduated from Roseville Area High School (1989), and received a BA in Studio Arts & Film Studies from UMN-Twin Cities (1995). Worked most of his professional life in artistic construction - building commercial interiors and themed play features, making contributions to such local venues as Como Park and Mall of America; employed most recently as exhibit specialist at the MN Zoo. Eric loved his family and friends all of whom will remember him for his sense of humor and intellectual curiosity and his many passions: word play, film and music, cooking and eating, a good beer, animals and insects, STAR WARS and KISS, the MN Zoo and State Fair, watching baseball, listening to public radio, living in Nordeast Mpls, and using his hands to text a friend, pet his cats, play his guitar, shake a stranger's hand, fabricate a rock or tree, catch a butterfly, and squeeze a hug. He is survived by parents, Laurie and Jim Hayes, Thunder Bay, ON, Canada; sister, Kate Hayes, Broomfield, CO; grandfather, Leon Hayes, Chickasha, OK; uncles and aunts (Wally and Joan Schultz, Shelly Beach, NSW, Australia; Bill and Inger Schultz, Ann Arbor, MI; Ed and Lori Schultz, Rochester, MN; and Michael and Candace Hayes, Hamilton, NY); cousins (Adrienne, Martin, Coryn, Peter, Anna, Emily, Thomas, Bethany, Tim and Terry), and a much larger circle of extended family and friends. A memorial service and celebration of Eric's life will be held Sunday, May 15 at 4 p.m. at St. Anthony Park Lutheran Church (2323 Como Ave., St. Paul MN 55108). Memorials in Eric's name are preferred to MN Zoo Foundation (13000 Zoo Boulevard, Apple Valley, MN 55124) and UMN College of Liberal Arts (UMN Foundation, PO Box 70870, St. Paul MN 55170).