Roy Edward Hayes, of Dixon, was born on June 23, 1929, at St. Louis, a son of Homer Eugene and Neva Marie (Ramsey) Hayes, and departed this life at 2:05 p.m., on Saturday, January 9, 2021, in Phelps Health, Rolla. He had attained the age of 91 years, 6 months, and 17 days.

Roy was united in marriage on December 16, 1950, at Harrison, Arkansas, to the former Miss Melva Darlene Rollins, and to this union, four children were born.

He was inducted into the United States Army on May 7, 1951, at Fort Custer, Michigan, and was discharged on December 6, 1951, at Camp Carson, Colorado, at the rank of Private (E2). He was assigned to D Company,11 ^th Armored Cavalry, while at Camp Carson, and we are grateful for his service to our country during the time of the Korean Conflict.

He was baptized on August 6, 1989, and was a member of the Wheeler Church of Christ, Dixon; a member of Teamsters Local, Granite City, Illinois; and a former member of the Dixon Lions Club. During his working life, Roy was owner and operator of his own truck as an over the road truck driver beginning as an auto transport driver, and later as a driver for Cocoa Cola. He and his cousin, Stanley Hayes, founded Hayes Ford Sales, Dixon, in 1955, and later became the owner and operator of the dealership until selling it in 1970. Roy and his cousin, Jim Hayes, founded Hayes Mobile Home Sales, Rolla, where he was for a time until becoming a fulltime truck driver, delivering mostly automobile assembly parts in the St. Louis area, prior to his retirement in 2003.

Those left to mourn the passing of Roy include: His children, Randal Hayes, Dixon, Bradley Hayes, St. Louis, and Sandra Hayes, Dixon; two granddaughters, Kassandra Wolf (Kyle), and Heather Hayes, all of St. Louis; one brother, Wesley Hayes (Velma), Vienna; nephews; nieces; and other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Darlene, on April 2, 2009; an infant daughter, Lanna Sue Hayes, born on May 15, 1951 and died on May 16, 1951; his father, Homer, on March 22, 1961; his mother, Neva, on November 12, 1982; two brothers, Gerald V. Hayes on February 13, 1985, and Norman "Pat" Hayes on February 24, 2000; and his one sister, Loretta Hayes Williams, on August 26, 2019; and his pet black lab dog, Duke, in 2010.

Visitation for Mr. Hayes will be held from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m., on Saturday, January 16, 2021, with his funeral service following at 11:00 a.m., all in the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Chapel, Dixon, with his cousin, the Rev. Karen Alden, Woodland United Methodist Church, Rocheport, officiating.

Interment with full military honors will be in the Wheeler Cemetery, Dixon, under the direction of the Dixon Chapel of the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Home.

Memorials are suggested to the Fair Haven Children's Home or the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital with envelopes available at the funeral home or in care of Birmingham-Martin Funeral Home, P.O. Box EE, Dixon, Missouri 65459.