Evans J. Hayes

Evans John Hayes passed on from a life of love, laughter, and service in the presence of family in Crown Point, IN 3/23/2019 at the age of 88. He was born in Chicago on 1/1/1931 to Clarence Hayes and Edith Smith and earned his fond nickname “Coke.” He attended Holy Rosary School then graduated from St. Willibrord High School in 1948. He joined the Coast Guard and served out of San Francisco and the Great Lakes. He made a career as a truck driver, a long haul car carrier, and was active in the Teamsters union, Local 710. He was recognized for his safe driving record, and is remembered for his artistic talent, sense of humor, and habit of rescuing every stray dog he could scoop up along his route. He was a family man, and his marriage to Florence “Honey” Hayes, nee Garczynski, November 27, 1956, was one of his great legacies. He was a model of joyful love and generosity of spirit to his daughters, Susan and Janet. The family lived in Chicago, Goodnow, and then settled in Lansing where he was known for his garden and wonderful singing at St. Ann Catholic Church. The couple was known for their crazy swing dancing moves, civic engagement through volunteering at elections, and especially having a welcoming home with favorite meals for everyone. After years of vacationing on Michigan lakeshores, Evans and Florence fulfilled their dream of retiring on the water in Lake Dalecarlia in Indiana. He loved living on the water, windsurfing, and playing golf. He lives on in the memory of his eldest daughter Susan Hayes Kelly, her husband Ed Kelly, and granddaughters Nicole Douglas with son Coltrane, and Gina Kelly-Elliott with family Nicholas, Sokhna, Ethan, Oliver, Evans, Uriah, and Iris; and his younger daughter Janet McMahon along with her husband Dan and granddaughters Laura and Emily. The family finds peace knowing he will be reunited with his beloved wife, Florence, who preceded him in death 4/5/2006. He will be remembered in a private memorial service for family this Sunday, March 31. The family is grateful for donations on his behalf to PAWS Chicago via phone at 773-475-4242 or at http://www.pawschicago.org/how-to-help/donate/tributes-and-memorials/. Burns Funeral Home, Crown Point, entrusted with arrangements.

Evans J. Hayes

January 1, 1931 - March 23, 2019