Robert Thomas Hayes

1929 - 2015

Good day, sir!

My name is Robert Thomas Hayes, but you can call me Bob. They say if you see your obituary in the paper it is too late and efforts to get out of bed would be futile. So as my spirit has released from my worn out shell of a body, I'll leave you with a few words before I head off to a reunion with family and friends I have not seen in quite some time.

In like a lion, out like a lamb.

I was brought into this world by my mother, Mildred Hayes, on May 22, 1929, in Jacksonville, Illinois. I've left peacefully by the side of my beloved Gloria at our home in Jacksonville, Illinois, on Sept. 29, 2015.

During my life I was preceded in death by: my parents, Bert Williams, Mildred & James T Hayes; my brother, Lawrence Hayes; sister, Patsy Williams; and grandson, Andrew Luke Sipes.

Enough about weeds, let us focus on the flowers.

Gloria and myself created the most loving and beautiful family. I've left behind, those celebrating my life, a wife, Gloria, whom I wed on July 22 of 1951, two daughters: Patricia (husband, Sammie) Sipes, and Paula (husband, Larry) Chatfield; seven grandchildren: Rob (wife, Trish) Sipes, Heidi (husband, Bill) Reynolds, Sami (husband, Brian) Riley, Doug (wife, Renee) Kellerman, Tara (husband, Darin) Myers, Stephanie Stewart, and Jacob (wife, Savita) Chatfield; 17 great-grandchildren: Ella, John Robert, Nicole, Sara, Joe, Levi, Mac, Andrew, Clara, Sam, Madison, Hailey, Noah, Austin, Carter, Brody and Bryce; along with five great-great-grandchildren: Dante, Owen, Aryonah, Gage, Burkleigh, and one coming 2016.

All work and no play.

My adult journey began with the United States Navy as a destroyer engineer on the USS Buckley and I toured in World War II during my service. Following my military career, I had the great honor as an Illinois State Trooper of standing guard detail for many sitting presidents and governors. I worked the Chicago riots in the '60s, also achieving being top 5 in shot with a riot gun.

Work aside, my life lessons started as a young boy. For instance, you do not want to play with a live turkey. He will not play nice and Christmas dinner will come early once you've had to defend yourself, we cannot waste a good bird. During my service in the Navy, one lesson in fact was that shaving is more important … with a razor. And a day spent with much elbow grease creating the perfect, squeaky clean squad car in preparation for inspection would turn to prove attractive to feline fecal matter when left overnight with the windows down. And I dare not forget the ease to rack up your citation quota by giving such a lecture that the less than law abiding citizens practically beg for the piece of paper just to get going.

Memorial service will be held 10:30 a.m. Friday at Sager Funeral Home in Beardstown. Private burial will be held at a later date. Visitation will be held 5-7 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Memorial Home Hospice or Wounded Warriors. Condolences may be left online at sagerfuneralhome.com