Clarence Sheridan Hayes, 89, son of Allen and Agness Eva May Sutton Hayes, was born April 15, 1918, at Prescott. He died July 26, 2007, at Cass Medical Center at Harrisonville.
He graduated from Licking High School in 1936 and attended a year of teacher training at Houston, coaching basketball. He taught school at Hartshorn two years and attended Springfield Teachers College for a time.
He married Rheva Evans April 14, 1940. They had one son.
He was inducted into the Navy May 5, 1944, and was discharged Dec. 18, 1945. He served on a supply ship, which went to Russia and other areas during World War II.
On one occasion, he was standing watch on the ship and spotted a torpedo coming toward him. It went under his ship, the Charles Scribner, and hit a carrier.
He had several jobs and businesses over the years. He owned a pool hall, gas station, feed store, hardware store and a Gambles, which he co-owned with Leeman Green. He also worked with his brother, Charles, in the timber and was a foreman at Rawlings Sporting Goods.
He enjoyed working with the public, talking politics and sports. One of his proudest accomplishments was serving as mayor of Licking. He had the largest baseball in the world created, which was the round water tower painted with baseball stitching. The project made “Ripley’s Believe It or Not.”
He enjoyed the outdoors, going hunting or fishing. He owned several guns, fishing rods and tackle boxes.
After the Hayes’ retired, they spent many winters at Llano Grande Park in Mercedes, Texas.
Mr. Hayes became a member of the First Baptist Church April 14, 1935. He was the oldest member.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Mabel; and three brothers, Charles, Thomas and Bryce.
Surviving are his wife of Harrisonville; one son, Jack of Belton; two grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Services were July 28 at the Evans Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Wilbur Mobley officiating. Burial was in the Boone Creek Cemetery.
