HAYES, Eugene (Gene)

The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona, Tuesday, December 04, 2012 Eugene (Gene) Hayes passed away at the VA Hospice in Prescott, Ariz., on Sunday, Dec. 2, 2012. Gene was born Feb. 24, 1926, in Los Angeles, Calif., to parents Claude and Beatrice (Raynor) Hayes. Gene, raised in Prescott, graduated from Prescott High School, class of 1944. After graduating from high school, he joined the Army in '44 and served during WWII, where he earned three Purple Hearts. He served, fighting in the front lines on Okinawa from the first day of the invasion until the last days of that Pacific Island conflict. His service ended when he was shot in the leg and was evacuated to a hospital ship after 40 days of fighting. Gene was always proud of his military service and spoke of it often. He spent his last three and a half years in the VA hospital following a stroke where he always wore a cap that read "WWII Army Veteran." His name is listed on the WWII Memorial on the square. After the war, he married Louise Overstreet in Prescott in 1948. After 13 years of marriage, they parted but remained life-long devoted friends. They had three children, Randy Hayes (Sandy Cordova) of Prescott Valley, Forrest Hayes of Prescott and Nancy Cayer (Alan) of Westminster, Colo. He will be greatly missed by his friend and former wife, Louise (Hayes) Baribeau (Floyd) of Prescott. Gene was preceded in death by his parents, his half-brother, Blaine Raynor, and his sister, Merle Rourke. Our thanks to the Prescott VA hospital for all the genuine loving care they gave him. Gene, as he liked to be called, had a great sense of humor and was a loving father. Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7, 2012, at Unity Church in Prescott. Arrangements are entrusted to Heritage Memory Mortuary. Donations may be made to the VA Hospital Voluntary Services, 500 N. Highway 89, Prescott, AZ 86313. Information provided by survivors.