John Louis Hayes
Jan. 15, 1914 – Aug. 17, 2013
John (Jack) passed away peacefully on August 17th at Lion’s Gate Palliative Unit in Vancouver with family at his side. Born on January 15th, 1914 in Winnipeg, he was in his 100th year and celebrated every day despite declining health.
Jack spent a lifetime working and travelling throughout Canada, the United States and Europe. During WWII he was an Officer overseas with the Royal Canadian Air Force. Retired from several careers, including an executive portfolio with Shell Canada and a government relations directorship, he settled in Vancouver to be close to family. Never a man to be idle, he didn’t officially retire until age 80 and then took up the pen. He wrote two books, “Where Did You Come From?”, a tapestry of prairie life, and “Woman Achiever”, a novella set in WWII featuring a gutsy female pilot.
Predeceased by his beloved wife Frances (2001), he is survived by his daughters Maureen (Tom), Lynn, and Diana (Peter), as well as grandchildren Stephen, Alison and Jeffrey and great-grandchildren Hannah, Carly, Leah and Nathan.
Jack never lost his zest for life and when asked about his secret to longevity, his answer was “family, friends, helping others, keeping the mind busy”. He was still reading the newspapers and keeping up with current affairs in his last weeks in hospital and never missed a beat.
Donations in memory of Jack can be made to the Lady Minto Hospital Foundation.
“Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth,
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings”