Jesse Calvin Hayes

Jesse Calvin Hayes, Jr, 80, passed away October 11, 2025. Born April 15, 1945, in Montgomery, Alabama. Preceded in death by his parents, Mildred and Jesse, and brother, Jack.

Survived by his wife of 56 years, Charmaine, daughters, Shanda Wingfield and Kristi (Richard) Free, his sister Rita (Doug) Gizzard, brother-in-law Frank (Nancy) Rabenau, and partners in crime (the grandchildren), Braden and Emily Wingfield and Elliott and Kaitlyn Free.

Early in life Calvin showed great wisdom, choosing Auburn University over that other state school. He frequently remarked he then spent the next fifty years watching his alma mater "snatch defeat from the jaws of victory." His degree took him from Boeing in Seattle to Abbott Labs in Rocky Mount, North Carolina before landing in Cleveland, Tennessee at Dr. Scholl.

While settling into life in Cleveland, he quickly found his church home at First Baptist. A member for over four decades, he formed lasting friendships over the weekly coffee he prepared for his Sunday School class. He also had a special group of friends within the Emmaus community.

Calvin had an industrial engineering degree and further added a master's degree in organizational psychology. He loved to figure out how machines worked and how people thought. He designed an assembly line while at Dr. Scholl called the Form, Fill and Seal - and got a kick out of some of his coworkers (as well as his daughters who worked summer jobs there) affectionately/jokingly dubbing it the Form, Fill and Kill. His basement workshop is a shrine to tools and a testament to tinkering. Ultimately, he loved creating solutions to problems.

He was a homebody but still loved to travel. He toured a dozen National Parks. There were multiple week-long camping and canoeing trips through the Boundary Waters and various rivers. He bicycled through Austria, France, Croatia, Turkey and Greece. As much as he loved traveling, he loved coming home to his friends, family and his church.

In addition to all the technical expertise, he had an artistic side including photography, playing guitar, writing songs and poetry. He even wrote a few books! His love of reading knew no bounds (although science fiction and westerns were favorites.) He enjoyed long discussions over coffee, Cracker Barrel breakfasts with the grandkids and listening to rainy days.

A devoted Grandfather, he fostered a love of fishing, music and education to his grandchildren. Everything he did was motivated by his love of family. He was a fierce protector who loved passing on life lessons with a touch of his sly sense of humor and a twinkle in his eye.

Friends and family will gather Monday, October 20, 2025, at Companion Funeral Home, Ridge Chapel, between 11:00-1:00. Services will follow at 1:00, with burial will be at Hill Crest Mausoleum.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to First Baptist Church in Cleveland, TN - or connect with a friend or two over a cup of coffee.