Williard De Merle “Bucky” Hayes, age 100, of New Bethlehem, died Friday morning, February 7, 2014 at the Jefferson Manor Health Center in Brookville.
Born August 13, 1913 on a dairy farm in Luthersburg, Clearfield County, he was the second oldest of 11 children born to the late John Edward Hayes and Grace Gertrude Colwell Hayes.
He graduated from the Brady Township High School in 1932, attended the DuBois School of Business and then moved to Pittsburgh in 1933 to work as an oiler and mechanic for York Engineering and Construction Company.
Following completion of his work in Pittsburgh, Bucky moved to New Bethlehem and worked as a welder for Page Stahlman and R.J. Nichols for 3 years, returning to Pittsburgh for the Otis Elevator Company to install elevators and escalators in the 3 major department stores.
Upon his return to New Bethlehem, he resumed what would become his lifelong career as a welder. He purchased the machine shop operation of the Stahlman Garage and thus, Hayes Machine Shop was founded. Since 1978 the business has been owned by his daughter and son-in-law, Karen and Darl Emings and is still in operation today, holding the honor of the oldest family owned business in town.
Bucky married Anna Mae Bish Hopper on January 22, 1968. She preceded him in death on January 23, 2014. He had previously been married to the former Clara Geraldine Anthony.
He was an avid outdoorsman. He loved hunting and fishing and traveling with Anna Mae across the United States and Canada.
In earlier years, he was a scout leader for the Explorer Scouts, taking the scouts on a fishing trip to Winnipeg, Canada, where he was inducted into the Eagle Scouts.
Bucky was a life member of the MOOSE, ELK, Eagles, VFW and the New Bethlehem Fire Company.
Survivors include 3 children: Dr. Robert D. Hayes and his wife, Mary, of Pennington Gap, Virginia; Donna White of Treasure Island, Florida and Karen Emings and her husband, Darl, of New Bethlehem; one step son: Donald O. Hopper and his wife, Jan R. of Templeton; 8 grandchildren: Kimberly Pierce, Tammy Catlos, Chad White, Christopher Hayes, Scott Emings, Shane White, Jennifer Avram and January Coventry; 3 step grandchildren: Larry Wagner, Teresa “Jeanie” Nelson and Lloyd Hopper; 10 great grandchildren, 2 step great grandchildren and 2 step great great grandchildren.
Bucky is also survived by 2 brothers, Richard Hayes and Charles Hayes and 3 sisters: Jackie Crawford, Kathryn Campbell and Frances Hartman.
In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by a sister, Millicent Gould; four brothers, Jake, John, Robert and Albert Hayes and a step daughter, Donna Mae Wagner.
Family and friends will be received from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, February 12, 2014 at the Rupert Funeral Home and Cremation Service Chapel, 233 Penn Street, New Bethlehem.
Funeral services will be held at 8 p.m. on Wednesday in the funeral home chapel with the Reverend Ben Shindledecker officiating over the service.
Entombment will take place in The Memorial Mausoleum of the New Bethlehem Cemetery.
Online condolences to Bucky’s family are being accepted at this time at http://www.rupertfuneralhomes.com/
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