William (Bill) Frank Hayes (October 8, 1949 – May 5, 2021)
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our uncle and brother, Bill Hayes, on May 5, 2021 at the age of 71. He passed away suddenly in Calgary surrounded by his nurses that adored him and with his niece virtually at his side. He will be missed by his entire family.
Bill was born and raised in Bassano, Alberta and called it home until he moved to the Silver Willow Lodge in Nanton, Alberta in February 2018 to be closer to his niece and her family. He made many new friends there in a short time, as Bill loved to talk to anybody. His heart was huge and loved to make friends. Due to declining health, Bill moved in 2020 to the Chinook Care Centre in Calgary, Alberta where he lived until his passing. He was a favourite among the staff there. In January 2021, Bill underwent eye surgery that gave Bill perfect vision. Bill wore his trademark thick glasses since he was a young boy, so Bill truly enjoyed his last few months looking at the city and all the goings on without any glasses at all. His nurses said that he could spot a tiny piece of lint on their uniform from across the room, so the staff would make a game out of trying to sneak things past Bill. Apparently nothing got past his new sight.
During his life in Bassano, Bill delivered the Calgary Herald to the homes in Bassano for many years. The highlight for Bill was when he got to tour the new Calgary Herald building that was built near Deerfoot Trail. Bill also worked at the Bassano Post Office as a caretaker and later as a mail carrier for the Gem and Countess mail routes. He would make that round trip from Bassano to Countess to Gem three days a week, regardless of the weather and road conditions, for many years. His favourite trips would be when he could bring along his dad or niece on the trip. As is always the case, Bill made many lifelong friends along his route. Bill took an early retirement in May 2006.
Bill was not a person who loved attention, and he preferred smaller family gatherings and quiet times where he could read his large collection of western novels and war history books. If he wasn’t reading, then he would be watching any type of sport on television, or building puzzles on the dining room table or maybe even building a model of a classic car or war machine. He was a movie fanatic and loved to talk about the latest movie he saw.
In Bill’s earlier years, you’d find him smashing golf balls on the Bassano golf course with one of his buddies, who would report that Bill was quite the incredible golfer. Bill would always be way too modest to ever admit that it was true. He loved to organize ball hockey pick up games at the old tennis courts at the playground in the evenings with people of all ages. They would play until they couldn’t see the ball anymore. His other hobbies including playing arcade games, pool, and gopher hunting.
Bill will be greatly missed by his loving sister Marg Scott, his bestest buddy and niece Suzanne Scott Thomasson (Mike) and their three children Jessica Scott, Kathryn Scott and Michelle Thomasson, his aunt Kay Gamble of Bassano, cousin Faye Buck (Albert Buck) and their boys Roger, Brian and Wade, as well as several other cousins. He is also survived by his nephew Steve Scott (Rhonda) and their two boys Spencer & Sawyer. He is predeceased by his brother Charles and sister Mary, his parents Jessie and Frank Hayes, and his grandparents and several aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Bill was cremated by Leyden’s Funeral Home in Calgary and will be buried in the family plot in Bassano. A private family service will be held to honour him.
If desired, donations may be made in tribute to the Alzheimer Society of Canada.
