Leon Maurice Hayes

Leon M. Hayes was born on July 11, 1921 to Patrick and Melina Hayes. He grew up in Somerville, Massachusetts with his brother, Donald P. Hayes, 93, his sister Ruth Castor, 88, and joins his sister Peggy in heaven. As a member of “the greatest generation”, he patriotically enlisted in the Army Air Corps to help defend our country and to ensure freedom from oppression in WWII. He served from 1943 to 1946 stationed mostly in India but also in China and Burma.

Upon returning from the war, Lee graduated from Tuft’s University and married his high school sweetheart, Mary Adams, of Somerville, Mass. Lee began work with ESB, Inc. and in 1952, was assigned as sales manager for the western US and settled in Denver, Co. A son, Paul was also born in 1952 and a second son, Richard, completed the family in 1955. In 1957 he returned to the east coast and continued his advancing career with ESB.

In 1964 he was assigned as general manager of the Missile and Electronics division of ESB in Raleigh, NC and he worked with that division until 1974. Upon which, he was appointed as assistant to the Vice President at the Yardley, Pa. research center of ESB. In1982 when he was asked to transfer a young division then known as Exide Electronics, back to Raleigh and in 1986, Lee retired after 35 years.

In spite of a busy career, Lee always found time to be with his family, working with his son’s Boy Scout troops, serving as assistant coach of their baseball teams, rooting for them with their swim teams, teaching them golf and always serving as a mentor and role model for life. As a child Lee grew up in a home filled with music and singing and his love for singing carried him through life. Always a member of the church choir and even at Springmoor he sang in “The Hot Shots” chorus and in the community choir. He was also a committed public servant as a long-time member of Rotary International.

A devout Christian assured of his salvation through Christ, Lee practiced and lived his faith in every aspect of his life. He served as deacon and elder at Hudson Memorial Presbyterian Church many times since 1964. But for all who knew him, it was his quiet, gentlemanly manner of practicing his faith, his study of the bible and his devotion to God that stood as a shining beacon for all to see that he loved Christ and that he knew God.

Lee joins his wife Mary in heaven and is survived by his son Paul D. Hayes and wife Kathy, son Richard A. Hayes and wife Melanie; grandchildren Justin Hayes, Jarrett Hayes, Amy Mitchiner and Jennifer Hayes; step-grandchildren Mark Skinner and Jon Skinner and great grandchildren Jaidyn Mitchiner and Sebastian Skinner.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 21, 2012 at 1:30 PM at Springmoor Retirement Community, 1500 Sawmill Rd, Raleigh, NC 27615. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be submitted to: Springmoor Endowment Fund, 1500 Springmoor Rd, Raleigh, NC 27615. Share condolences at www.BrownWynne.com