He was born on January 23, 1935 in Knoxville, Tennessee to the late Leonard Edgar & Alice (Ruckart) Hayes. Kenneth graduated from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. He married Sue King in 1961.
He later graduated from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Raleigh, NC. Ken & Sue moved to Nashville in 1965 to start work for the Baptist Sunday School Board now "Lifeway". He worked as a research associate for 28 years, retiring in 1993. Ken was a member of First Baptist of Donelson, where he was a deacon, was on various committees and was a Sunday school teacher for over forty years. He was an avid reader and loved to garden. He is preceded in death by his parents; son, Kevin Hayes; sisters, Lois Morris and Nadine Rogers.
Ken is survived by his wife, Sue Hayes of Old Hickory, TN; sons, Mark (Nell) Hayes of Hendersonville, TN, Matt (Heather) Hayes, Mount Juliet, TN, Jonathan Hayes of Nashville, TN; seven grandchildren and one great-grand child. A Celebration of his life will be held 11 a.m. Thursday, October 4, 2018 at First Baptist Donelson, 2526 Lebanon Pike, Nashville, TN 37214; Visitation will be held from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. on Thursday at the church.
The family will receive friends on Wednesday, October 3, 2018 from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Mount Olivet Funeral Home and Cemetery. He will be laid to rest at the Historic Mount Olivet Cemetery.
