Coyla J Hayes

Born January 14, 1961 in Pekin to Coy and Erma Dee (Lee) Cunningham, she married Allen Hayes on November 29, 1980 in Pekin. He survives.

Also surviving are one son, Brock (Breanna) Hayes of Tremont; two grandsons, Jaxon & Carter; one granddaughter, Kennedy and four brothers, Danny (Juanita) Cunningham of Pekin, Rick (Val) Cunningham of Decatur, Tim (Lisa) Cunningham of Fort Myers, Florida and David (Nikki) Cunningham of Quitman, Arkansas. She also leaves a sister-in-law, Shari (Jon) Dolen of Green Valley and two brothers-in-law, Rob Hayes and Clinton Hayes, both of Pekin.

Her parents preceded her in death.

She was a 1979 graduate of Pekin Community High School and graduated with her associate’s degree from Illinois Central College. She then earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from OSF St. Francis College of Nursing.

A registered nurse, she last managed the nursing staff at Illinois CancerCare from 2005 until 2016. She previously worked for OSF as manager of the Women’s Services at the facility on Route 91, at Mother M. Frances Krasse in Peoria and as the assistant floor manager for the Oncology Unit at OSF St. Francis Medical Center.

Coyla was a two time cancer survivor who proudly gave back. She loved her grandchildren who were the joy of her life. She also dearly loved her son and her daughter-in-law and her husband, Allen along with her entire extended family. She enjoyed baking, shopping and tending to her flowers.

A member of North Parkway Assembly of God in Pekin, she had great faith in the Lord and always enjoyed being with her friends at church. She served the church as a choir member and as a Sunday school teacher.

Her funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, September 7, 2019 at North Parkway Assembly of God in Pekin. Pastor Darin Shorey and Pastor Gary Grogan will officiate. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin, and also from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. Saturday at the church. Burial will be in Glendale Memorial Gardens in Pekin.

Memorial contributions may be made to Illinois CancerCare Foundation, 8940 Wood Sage Road, Peoria, IL 61615 or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Midwest Affiliate, 530 Northeast Glen Oak Avenue, Peoria, Illinois 61637.

To express condolences online, visit www.preston-hanley.com