William “Billy” Hayes, 69, of Raymondville, Mo., passed away Dec. 13, 2018. He was born Nov. 10, 1949, in Ellis Prairie, Mo., to Wilbert and Madge Hayes.
Billy as a young boy helped his dad in the log woods with a team of horses. Billy played basketball at Success School and then went on to play at Houston High School. Billy had to hitchhike from Ellis Prairie to Houston for ball practice. In 1967, the Houston Tigers basketball team won the Blue and Gold Tournament. Billy was always proud of his accomplishments in basketball.
After graduation, he worked at OK Tire for a short time and then went to Kansas City to work on the railroad. He returned to Houston and worked for Don Watson at Watsons Hardware.
Billy was an avid coon hunter and won many trophy hunts, including a world champion hunt. Billy also liked to deer hunt and gig with his buddies. He was an avid roper in his younger years. Throughout the years Billy bought and sold horses, cattle and coon dogs. In his later years he continued with cattle and farming.
He married Marilyn Chipps on June 21, 1969, and to this union two children were born, Monty and Cassie.
Billy began working for his father-in-law, buying and selling cattle and running the sawmill, after his father-in-law passed, he and Marilyn owned and operated Missouri Wood Treating, which they still own today and still enjoy his cattle business.
Billy was preceded in death by his parents.
Surviving is his love of 49 years, Marilyn of the home in Raymondville; his children, Monty Hayes and Cassie Gunter and husband, Payton, all of Raymondville, Mo.; five grandchildren who were the light of his life, Azurede, Ashlynn and Devin Hayes and Abilena and William Gunter; a brother, Dwayne Hayes and wife, Cindy, of Nixa, Mo.; three sisters, Carolyn Shelton of Bucyrus, Mo., Betty Lou Joslin of Fenton, Mo., and Nancy Thompson and husband, Steve, of Paducah, Ky.; brother-in-law, Howard “Bub” Chipps and wife, Carole; sister-in-law, Myra Ceplina and husband, Joe; and lots of nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
Billy was always helping everyone that needed his help, from hauling cattle, to doctoring a sick cow or anything else they needed. He was truly one of a kind that was loved by all.
He was a hard worker, loving husband, father and grandfather and will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.
Services are 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2018, at Evans Funeral Home with Pastor Cody Neugebauer officiating. Burial will be in Boone Creek Cemetery under the direction of Evans Funeral Home. Pallbearers were Stetson Evetts, Jared Lewis, Travis Sanders, Tanner Scheets, Austin Wildhaber and Brandon Wildhaber.
Memorials may be made to Boone Creek Cemetery. To express online condolences to the family, go to www.evansfh.com.
PAID