Bartlett James Hayes

He was born on April 14, 1945 in San Diego, CA, the only child of James Wesley Hayes and Irene Bartlett Hayes.

Bart was raised in Long Beach, CA and graduated from high school in 1963. Not long after graduation he joined the U.S. Marine Corps and was stationed with the Maine Detachment at the Millington Naval Base outside of Memphis, TN. While there he met his future wife, Melinda Anderson. They were married on July 2, 1965.

Bart was a Vietnam veteran serving 13 months in country. He was a crew chief on Bell UH-1 Iroquois (Huey) helicopter earning 18 air medals for medical evacuation and combat flights.

After military service, Bart attended college and graduated from Brescia University (Owensboro, KY) with a Bachelor of Science degree. He also earned a private pilot’s license and was a certified EMT. He worked over 30 years in the insurance industry, earning the CLU (Chartered Life Underwriter) designation and leading an award winning sales staff for Monumental (Commonwealth) Life Insurance Company.

Bart loved music- he sang in choirs and led music in several smaller churches in KY and OH; he played trumpet and French horn in his high school band and in the Drum and Bugle Corps while in the Marines. He also played in the handbell choir at Westport Road Baptist Church.

Golf was his sport. He absolutely loved it and played every chance he got. His dad was his usual golf partner on Saturday mornings. He made good friends over the years on golf courses around the country.

Bart was a good Christian man who loved the Lord. He also love his family and was proud of all of them. His grandchildren called him “Old Guy” and they knew nobody loved them like Old Guy did.

He is preceded in death by his parents and a son, Jeremy Reid Hayes. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Melinda; a son, James David Hayes (Mayme Eilers), Clarksville, IN; three grandchildren, Sophie Hayes (Matthew Cates), Whitesville, KY, Max Hayes (Cherokee Bennett) New Albany, IN, and Emmett Hayes, Clarksville, IN, and one great-grandchild, Violet Cates, Whitesville, KY. He is also survived by extended family members who loved him very much: David and Connie Anderson, Memphis, TN, Mae Wood, Owensboro, KY, Howard and Kristin Anderson, Louisville, KY and many nieces and nephews.

Services will be held at Westport Road Baptist Church. Visitation will be on Tuesday August 20, 2024 from 11am-1pm with a funeral service at 1pm. Burial will take place on Wednesday August 21, 2024 at Cates Cemetery in Whitesville, KY.

Expressions of sympathy can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at act.alz.org.