Robert Alvis Hayes
Robert Alvis Hayes, 88, of Pea Ridge, died Sept. 1, 2022, in Bentonville. He was born Oct. 18, 1933, in Stanton, Ala., to Emmett Holsey Hayes and Lavadie Burt Hayes.
He graduated high school in Maplesville, Ala., in 1952, then enlisted into the U.S. Air Force and served his country that he loved for eight years. Robert served as a member of the Strategic Air Command at Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha, Neb. During his time in the Air Force, he married his wife, Nelda McKissick on Feb. 10, 1956. They were married 64 years and together they had four children.
Robert then went to work at the Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston, Texas, working with escape systems. He worked at NASA for five years and at this time he felt called into the ministry and enrolled at Bethany Nazarene College (Southern Nazarene University). He served his Lord and Savior for many years as a pastor/minister for the Church of the Nazarene, Chickasha Church of the Nazarene, McCrory Church of the Nazarene, Werner Park Church of the Nazarene and Waldron Church of the Nazarene. After retirement from the Nazarene Church, he was asked to become the pastor at the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Waldron, which he pastored for nine years.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Nelda Hayes; siblings, Lilah Mae Johnson (Earl), Myrtle Donovan, Joyce Tinney (Ray), Maurice Hayes, William Hayes (Sandra); and in-laws, Curtis Smith, Avis Hayes and Sheree Hayes.
Survivors are children, Kathy Ann Dawson (Jim) of Asheboro, N.C., Wanda Lee Baker (Anthony) of Little Flock, Ken Hayes of Washburn, Mo., and Charles Robert Hayes (Suzanne) of Asheboro, N.C.; siblings, Emmett Hayes (Earnestine) of Picayune, Miss., Eleanor Smith of Maplesville, Ala., Linda Atcheson (Robert Jr.) of Stanton, Ala.; sister-in-law, Donna Hayes of Montgomery, Ala.; 10 grandchildren; and 29 great-grandchildren.
There was no visitation scheduled.
Service was at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 6, in the Pea Ridge Church of the Nazarene.
Burial was in the Pea Ridge Cemetery.
Arrangements were by Sisco Funeral Home in Pea Ridge.
Online condolences may be made at siscofuneralhome.net.