Jack Hayes

The Hayes, Bensend, Knight, and Smith families mourn the loss of their beloved brother, son, and uncle, Jack Hayes. Edmund Jackson (Jack) Hayes was born on February 9, 1959, at 10:28 AM, in New Orleans, LA, to William (Bill) Hayes Sr. and Lola (Beth) Wallace. He was the third of five children and the first of a twin set, (always the older brother) born about 20 minutes before his sister, weighing 4 1⁄2 pounds. He faced complications at birth, requiring a week's stay in the hospital while his mother and sister returned home.
 
 Jack grew up in Richardson, TX, and graduated from J.J. Pearce High School in 1978. Overcoming his small start, he dedicated himself to physical fitness. In high school he was voted Mr. Phys Ed (USA Fit Teen). He was part of the Golden Gloves briefly and although invited to represent Gold's Gym in Richardson in a bodybuilding competition, he declined, recognizing the unhealthy nature of extreme fat loss. His fondest memories include camping trips to Goose Island State Park on the Texas coast with family and close friends. He loved the ocean, particularly Rockport Beach, and aspired to settle in Rockport one day. Jack loved weight training and enjoyed working with clients at the YMCA in Rockport.
 
 A lifelong Catholic, he held a special devotion to the Brown Scapular, the Most Holy Rosary, the Divine Mercy Hour at 3 pm daily, the Litany of the Hours, and studying the lives of the Saints. Jack's love for scripture and God led him to pray multiple times daily for his family, friends, and the world. He collected religious bible texts of many versions researching the lives of saints.

While residing in Victoria, TX, he drove frack oil tankers and enjoyed spending free time with friends and visiting the beach. A dedicated worker, he never shirked his duties and approached all his endeavors with diligence. Jack greatly enjoyed his time as a long-haul truck driver, traveling across the United States, marveling at its beauty. Jack loved the mountains and streams he saw along the way and commented on one of his trips where he saw salmon running that he wished he could go fishing but had to move on with his truck load. Jack loved fishing on the Texas and Louisiana Coasts.

 A devoted son, he brought much joy to his mother in her final years through frequent visits, often lifting her spirits with laughter and card games. Following her passing, Jack decided it was time to be closer to family and moved back to the metroplex, residing in Sachse for the last several years. His greatest pleasure was spending time with family, especially at his sister Paula's active home, with her daughters and their children, his great nieces and nephews, playing card games, watching classic movies, and learning about his faith. When with the kids he would start pillow fights, build tents, proudly boast at beating us in Skip Bo/Phase 10/Uno and he loved hearing about what was happening in our lives. He had a knack for connecting with people, setting aside screens and TV to discuss old times, John Wayne movies or Jesus. His friends and family will miss him dearly.
 
Jack was found deceased in the early morning hours of January 2, 2024. He is preceded in death by his parents, William "Bill" Hayes and Lola "Beth" (Wallace) Hayes, his sister-in-law, Debra Hayes, and his nephews, Specialist William (Little Billy) S. Hayes III (U.S. Army) and Mikel Shea Bensend. He is survived by his four siblings, William (Billy) S. Hayes, Jr., Mary Anne Knight, his twin Lola (Mike) Smith, and Paula (Elliot) Bensend, along with eleven nieces and nephews and nine great-nieces and nephews, soon to be a tenth this year.
 
Services will be held on Friday, January 26, 2024, at Saint Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church, 1201 Alma Dr., Plano, Texas 75075. The Rosary will be at 10:00 AM, followed by the funeral mass at 11:00 AM, with inurnment immediately following.