- Date Of Birth: February 18, 1942
- Date Of Death: December 15, 2016
- State: Mississippi
Benjamin Muse Hayes, 74, loving husband, father and grandfather, passed away on Thursday, December 15, 2016, after a lengthy illness. Ben was born February 18, 1942, the youngest of seven at the family home in Sulphur Springs, MS to Marguerite Whelan Hayes and Thomas Stanford Hayes, Sr. He attended school in Camden and graduated from Canton High School in 1960. After graduating from Holmes Junior College and attending Mississippi State University, he returned home to take over running the family farm.
He was baptized and was a communicant of Immaculate Conception Church. Ben met Rita Bradshaw Hayes and fell in love. They were married in Canton, MS on June 14, 1969, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. As a parishioner of Sacred Heart Catholic Church since 1969, Ben was involved in many ministries thru the years.
Ben was a farmer and cattleman for most of his life. Over the years, he could be counted on to play cowboy by helping out with rounding up and roping cattle whenever he was needed. An avid hunter and fisherman, Ben spent many years as a member of the Natchez Trace Hunting Club. He shared his love of deer hunting, cows, and horses with his son, son-in-law, and grandchildren. In the community, he was also known for sharing the fruits of his plentiful garden as he always planted more than was needed.
As a salesman for VPG and Madison County Co-op and later when running his own trucking business, Ben was able to enjoy one of his God given talents – that of building friendships. He served as board member of the following organizations thru the years: Madison County Co-op; Farm Bureau; East Madison Water Company and the ASCS office. He was also a member of the MS Cattlemen’s Association and a founding member of the Farmhaven Volunteer Fire Department.
He was happiest surrounded by family in the role of Daddy or Pop Pop whether he was attending sporting events, a recital, being the on-call family handyman, or dancing with his wife Rita,
Ben was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Thomas Stanford ‘Stan’ Hayes, Jr.; his sisters, Sister Thomasita Hayes, Allie Hamel Tagg, and Marguerite Jarrell and his best friend Ike Burns.
He is survived by his loving wife, Rita; his daughters, Teresa Hayes of Brandon and Angela Bass and husband, Don of Brandon; his son, Russell Hayes and wife, Lauri of Cedar Bluff, MS; his grandchildren, Lance Corporal Joe Hayes, Mary Grace Bass, McKayla Hayes, Kate Bass and Jayne Bass; his brothers, Pete ‘Blue’ Hayes of Iuka, MS, Charles Hayes and wife, Bobbye of Madison, MS and many beloved nieces, nephews and dear friends.
