John Hayes

John B. Hayes, longtime Ponca City resident and businessman, died Monday, March 13, 2017 at AllianceHealth Ponca City after a 15 ½ year battle with thyroid cancer. He was 64.

The funeral will be held on Thursday, March 16, 2017 at 2 p.m. at the Grace Memorial Chapel. Burial will follow at the Resthaven Cemetery.

John B. was born on June 5, 1952, in Stillwater to Cecil and Clarene (McKaughan) Hayes. As a youth he spent a lot of time at his grandparent's dairy farm east of Stillwater. He graduated from C.E. Donart High School in Stillwater in 1970. He attended Northern Oklahoma College and Oklahoma State University.

He married Luree (Pederson) at the First Presbyterian Church in Ponca City. They had three children, Todd, Scott and Amy.

John B. was sales manager at the Max Welch Chevrolet in Tonkawa. They moved to Ponca City in 1979 and he owned and operated Honest John's Pawn Shop on south 14th Street. In 1983 he expanded into John B. Hayes Real Estate and Auction Inc. and brought his children into the business with him. It was something they all enjoyed doing together as a family.

John B. had an extensive auctioning business and held auctions throughout Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana and Kansas. In the early 90s he opened a sale barn with his best friend Mike Sanders in Sanger, Texas where monthly auctions were held.

The family currently owns and operates Hayes Equipment, in addition to John B. Hayes Real Estate and Auction Inc. north of Ponca City.

John B. was a family man. He was a hard worker and wasn't afraid to speak his mind. He loved his children and grandchildren and enjoyed living in the country and taking care of his cattle.

He is survived by his wife Luree of the home; sons Todd Hayes and Scott Hayes and wife Kristi; one daughter, Amy Hayes Marchesoni and husband John, all of Ponca City; grandchildren Devin, Tyler, Tucker, Haleigh, Skylar and Gage Stout, Johna, Chandler and Adelynn Marchesoni, Scotty Hayes and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Larry Joe Hayes.

Pallbearers will be grandchildren Scotty Hayes, Devin Stout, Tyler Stout and Gage Stout, son-in-law John Marchesoni, close friends Mike Sanders and Don Hoffman and brother-in-law Brent Pederson.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Ponca City Opportunity Center or ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors' Association Inc. at P.O. Box 1102, Olney, Md. 20830-1102.

Visitation

Grace Memorial Chapel
2016 N. 14th
Ponca City, OK  74601
Wednesday, March 15, 2017
1 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Service

Funeral Service

Grace Memorial Chapel
2016 N. 14th
Ponca City, OK  74601
Thursday, March 16, 2017
2 p.m.

Cemetery

Resthaven Memorial Park Cemetery
1901 E. Hubbard Road
Ponca City, OK  74601