Donald Merrill Hayes

   Donald Merrill Hayes

   ZIONSVILLE, IND. – Donald Merrill Hayes passed away on Nov. 5, 2021. He was at home with his wife, Mary Ann, at his bedside. The family is thankful to God for the blessings of his beautiful life. He was 81.

   Don, as everyone knew him, was born on March 4, 1940, son of EE “Tony” and Corrie Merrill Hayes. He grew up in Belmont, N.C., just outside Charlotte and graduated from University of Georgia. He and Mary Ann raised their family in Dalton, Ga. In 2019, they moved to Zionsville, Ind., to be closer to their son Jason and his family.

   Don is survived by his wife of 53 years, Mary Ann Hayes, of Zionsville Ind.; two children – son Jason Hayes and his wife, Emily, of Zionsville, Ind., and daughter Merrill Klapthor of Charlotte, N.C.; and one grandchild, Parker Hayes, of Zionsville, Ind.

  He was preceded in death by his brother, Johnny Hayes, and son-in-law, Dr. Lauren Booth Klapthor.

   The Hayes family is deeply grateful for the love and kindness shown during this time by family and friends.

   A gift in Don’s memory can be made to Oakland Presbyterian Church, care of Carol Johnson, P.O. Box 5362, Statesville, N.C. 28687. This is the church where they were married.