Clyde Wilford Hayes

Mr. Clyde Wilford Hayes, aka CW, aka John York, aka granddaddy passed away peaceful in his favorite living room chair Friday morning, January 24, 2014. His nephew Tracy Hayes called him the world's oldest teenager. CW lived an incredible life full of love, family, farming, hunting, fishing, adventure and much more. He said his greatest accomplishment in his life was marring Victoria. He was born April 3rd, 1925 in Poplar Springs, NC near Elkin. His dad worked the tobacco market in South Carolina and Virginia before starting Hayes Cash Hardware on Main Street in Mt. Airy. Clyde graduated from Greenville High in SC. He sang in the glee club and continued singing to his final days. CW spent much of his childhood on his granddaddy's farm near Elkin and after traveling the west with his cousin Big Joe Hayes, joining the Army as a MP and guarding the bomb in Oak Ridge, TN, he returned to court and marry the love of his life, Mary Victoria Dockery from the Union Cross community near Dobson. Clyde's parents were Charles Curtis Hayes and Florence Nance Hayes. His sister Helen passed away years ago. She was a brilliant singer and so was Clyde. He is survived by his brother Reverend Charles Hayes from Ringgold, GA. He is also survived by his wife Vicki who for many years ran Hayes Plumbing in Mt. Airy and Toast and then her Antique House in Cana. For his last years you would find Clyde and Vicki sitting in their living room overlooking the farm and lake on Stuarts Creek and the Blue Ridge Mountains. Clyde discovered the land for the farm while coon hunting and would go on to grow tobacco, start a chicken and dairy farm and ultimately be the driving force for the Stuarts Creek watershed. He always wanted to be a farmer and a great granddad. He did that and a lot more. He trained and showed champion Tennessee Walking horses as did his daughter Kaye and his granddaughter Susan. He was a serious coon hunter, deer hunter, trout fisherman and an incredible swimmer. He loved his Weimaraners, his Redticks, his wife, his children, his grandchildren and his great grandchildren, his nieces, his nephews, his cousins, in laws. He also loved many others including Dr. Steve Button, Donald Payne, Dwight Seal, Greg Parries, and Carl Massey. He also liked to take a drink or two and chew tobacco (even while swimming). Clyde is survived by his wife Mary Victoria Dockery Hayes of the home; son and daughter-in-law, Bill and Diane Hayes of Efland, NC; daughters and son-in-law, Donna Hayes of Lowgap, Linda Hayes Jones of Lambsburg, VA, Mark and Suzanne Hayes Furhman of Mt. Airy, NC and Kaye Hayes of the home. Nine grandchildren, eleven great grandchildren as far as we know. A celebration of life will be held Sunday, January 26th at Maple Grove United Methodist Church at 3:00 PM. In lieu of flowers send memorials to Maple Grove UMC, c/o/ Annette Jones treasurer, 146 McCormick Street, Mt. Airy, NC 27030. Online condolences may be made at www.moodyfuneralservices.com.