CARL "SMOKEY" EDWARD HAYES

Carl "Smokey" Edward Hayes, 75 of Eatonton, GA and formerly of Bluefield, VA passed away Wednesday, February 09, 2022.  Born in Tazewell, VA, he was the son of the late Frank Pierce and Janice Ritter Hayes.  He had served his country in the US Marines during the Vietnam Era.  He had worked as a press operator for the Federal Paper and also was self-employed as a contractor and was a member of the Eatonton Church of Christ.  He was a patient, humble, humorous man. He loved fishing and enjoyed ginsenging. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers: William and Jeff Hayes; great-grandchildren: Faith and Riley Robbins; brothers-in-law: Glenn Miller and Thomas Durham; nephew: Josh Dillard.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife of the heart: Mary Elizabeth Shrader Hayes; daughter: Rita Hayes and her half-brother: Clayton Barr; sisters: Freda Shrader (Herman), Wilma Shrader (Raymond), Linda Durham, Brenda Miller, Elaine Dillard (Alvin) and Elizabeth Gentle (Sam); grandchildren: Christopher, Greg, Shane and Shawn Robbins, William and D.J. Ryan, Aaron, Cody, Angelina, Amber, Emily and Conner Barr; 12 great-grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

A service to celebrate Carl's life will be held Sunday, February 13, 2022 at 2:00 P.M. at Dudley Memorial Chapel with Rev Jim Horn officiating.  Friends may visit on Sunday from 1:00 P.M. until the hour of the service at Dudley Memorial.

Military graveside rites will be conducted by Mercer County Honor Guard on Monday, February 14, 2022 at 10:00 A.M. at Maple Hill Cemetery. Grandsons will serve as pallbearers. Those wishing to attend the graveside service are ask to meet at Maple Hill Cemetery by 9:45 A.M. Monday morning.