Robert B. Hayes passed away on Saturday, July 23, 2022, at Mission Memorial Campus.
A native of Hudson, North Carolina, he was the son of the late R Barton and Estoy Bragg Hayes. Robert graduated from Davidson College and North Carolina State University with his master’s in engineering. His career began in the family-owned Hudson Cotton Mills then transitioning to Burlington Industries. A career path change landed him in the petroleum industry. He began working for Chevron USA in the Gulf of Mexico, and lastly with Chevron International. During the last phase, he worked in the African countries of Nigeria and Angola.
He was an excellent teacher, a man of few words with an infectious laugh. He enjoyed fixing things and growing tomatoes.
Robert is survived by wife Teresa; his son Dr. Christopher Hayes (Dr. Jody) and daughter Stephanie Cook (Andy); six grandchildren, Colin, Jackson, Coleman, Sterling, Preston and Catherine.
The care of Mr. Hayes has been entrusted to Wells Funeral Home of Waynesville and an online memorial register is available at “Obituaries” at wellsfuneralhome.com.