Mr. Fay C. "Gabby" Hayes

VIRGINIA BEACH – Beloved husband, father and grandfather, Retired Commander Fay Carroll “Gabby” Hayes passed away peacefully Thursday, March 15, 2018, at age 84. Gabby was born in Adel, GA and was predeceased by his loving mother, Ollie Mae Hayes, five sisters and one brother. After joining the U.S. Navy at 17, Gabby became a Naval Aviator, serving aboard the USS Forrestal, Constellation and Coral Sea. He studied engineering at Georgia Tech and the Naval Postgraduate School, and after 23 years of dedicated service, retired in 1974 as a Commander. After his career as an aviator, Gabby then helped launch the M&T Company, serving as General Manager for the Mid-Atlantic region. Whether he was playing golf or telling stories, Gabby had a zest for life and a love of sports. A tremendous athlete, in 2017, Gabby was inducted into the Cook County Sports Hall of Fame, where his football records earned him the nickname ‘Lightning’. As a coach and president of Kempsville Pony Baseball in the mid-70s, Gabby’s dedication and mentorship shaped the lives of countless young players. In retirement, you’d likely find him playing or watching golf, his lifelong passion. A 50-year resident of Kempsville in Virginia Beach, Gabby is survived by his devoted wife of sixty years, Audrey Jean Hayes, sons David (Karen) and Steve (Stephanie), grandchildren Matthew, Heather Burnett (Chris), Lauren, Steven, Andrew Hayes and Samantha Boyd, and two great grandchildren, Jackson and Cameron. Gabby lived life to the fullest. A man with boundless love for family and friends, he will be dearly missed.