Hursel Leon Hayes, of Dixon, was born on January 26, 1924, at Vienna, a son of Samuel Levi and Nora Edna (Bullock) Hayes, and departed this life at 2:23 a.m., on Thursday, May 30, 2013, in the Dixon Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Dixon. Mr. Hayes had been in failing health for some time and had attained the age of 89 years, 4 months, and 4 days.

Mr. Hayes was united in marriage on September 11, 1946, at Rolla, to Mildred Louise Dodds. He was preceded in death by his father in 1962; his mother in 1938; two brothers, an infant and Stanley Lee Hayes on August 29, 2009; and one sister-in-law, Eunice Hayes.

Mr. Hayes accepted Jesus Christ as his Personal Savior and followed his Lord in baptism early in life, and at the time of his passing, was a member of the Kenner Church of God, near Dixon. He was a member of the Carpenters Union, Rolla, and had worked as a carpenter and a farmer for all his working life. Mr. Hayes enjoyed fishing, traveling, church activities, gardening, music and playing his fiddle.

Those left to mourn the passing of Mr. Hayes include: his wife of sixty-six years, Mildred Hayes, of the home in Dixon; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Harold Hayes, and Jim and Janice Hayes, all of Rolla; and Lorene Hayes, Dixon; one sister and brother-in-law, Nadine and Leo Asmus, Dixon; nephews; nieces; and other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were conducted for Mr. Hayes at 11:00 a.m., on Saturday, June 1, 2013, in the Dixon Chapel of the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Homes with the Rev. Karen S. Alden, Woodlandville United Methodist Church, Rocheport, officiating. Three favorite songs, "I'll Meet You In The Morning", "Beyond The Sunset", and "God Be With You Til We Meet Again", were played for the service.

Interment was in the Kenner Cemetery, near Dixon, under the direction of the Dixon Chapel of the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Homes. Pallbearers for Mr. Hayes were relatives and friends.

Memorials are suggested to the Kenner Church of God or the Kenner Cemetery Perpetual Care Fund with envelopes available at the Dixon Office of the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Homes.