Milton Turner Hayes

Milton T. Hayes passed away surrounded by his loving family on February 19, 2024 in Grants Pass, Oregon. Milton was born October 2, 1941 in Duluth, Minnesota to Ralph and Bernice Hayes. After graduating from high school in Duluth, he joined the army and served with the military police for four years. He was discharged from the army in San Pedro, California where he met and married Peggy Tabor on May 16, 1963.

Milton accepted his Lord as Savior and was baptized by the Lomita MBC on May 30, 1965. In June of the same year, he surrendered to the ministry and enrolled in the CMBI Seminary in Bellflower, California where he received his bachelor degree in 1969. He returned to CMBI as instructor and taught from 1970 to 1979.

On June 8,1970, he was ordained by the Norwalk MBC, and began his long ministry as pastor with the Simi Valley MBC. He went on to pastor the Missionary Baptist churches in Sheridan and Sharon in Long Beach, California. In 1979, he moved to Oregon to pastor the Grants Pass Missionary Baptist Church where he served faithfully for 41 years. Besides his family, he considered pastoring the Lord’s churches for 51 years to be his greatest honor.

While attending seminary and pastoring he also worked for Douglas Aircraft and Bemmis Bags in California and later laying blocks in the construction field. He used his construction skills later in Oregon where he built a beautiful home for his wife and family.

Milton enjoyed many hobbies. He was an avid runner completing a marathon on his 50th birthday. He enjoyed hunting, motorcycling, biking and skiing and many other activities. He and Peggy enjoyed traveling. They visited many sites in the United States; traveled to the Philippines visiting and teaching missionaries and pastors; but their traveling highlight was their trip to Israel where they walked where Jesus had walked.

Milton was preceded in death by his parents Ralph and Bernice Hayes; brothers Ralph, John and Doug; sister Lois, sister-in-law Vaugh and grandson Kory.

He is survived by Peggy, his wife of 60 years; his daughter Bernice and her husband Steve Valentine; his son Ralph and his wife Maureen; nine grandchildren; 22 great grandchildren and one great, great grandchild.

A memorial service will be held March 2, 2024 at the Grants Pass Missionary Baptist Church at 11:00 am in Merlin, Oregon.