A Mass of Christian Burial for Bernard Williams Hayes, 92, of Beaumont, will be celebrated on Saturday, June, 2, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. at St. Anne's Catholic Church. Interment will follow in Haven of Rest Cemetery. A gathering of family and friends will be held Friday evening from 6 - 9:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

Mr. Hayes was born November 18, 1919 in Waldo, Arkansas and passed away May 30, 2012 in Beaumont. A resident of Beaumont since 1953, Mr. Hayes was a US Army Veteran of both WWII and Korea. He was a member of St. Anne Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus and the Beaumont Rotary Club.

Mr. Hayes was a licensed Funeral Director for over 60 years in Texas and Louisiana. His funeral service career in Texas started in 1953 as he began a long relationship with Mr. Charles Kelley and the Kelley-Hixson Funeral where he served as manager for 30 years. As the ownership of the funeral home changed, he continued his career with Kelley-Watkins Funeral Home and retired from Claybar Kelley-Watkins Funeral Home at the age of 90.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Lucille Alice Hayes in 2003. Those left to cherish his memory are his daughter and son-in-law, Patricia Ann and Dr. Tom Murphy of Spring, Texas; sons and daughters-in-law, Robert Bernard and Brenda Hayes of Desota, Texas and John Christopher and Kathy Hayes of Port Neches; 9 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.