Steven Parker Hayes

Steve Hayes - Local Charity Drummer Steven Parker Hayes, 57, a local contractor and area musician, died peacefully in his sleep of esophageal cancer on March 23, 2014 at the Robin Johnson Hospice House in Dallas, NC. Hayes owned Hayes Paint and Drywall, a commercial contractor serving residential apartment complexes in the Piedmont area. He was known locally as a rock drummer for rock, southern rock, and alt-country bands. Hayes was born April 29, 1957 in Catawba County to the late W. Hayden Hayes, a textile manager, and homemaker, Betty Setzer Hayes. Raised in Gastonia, he graduated in 1975 from Ashbrook High School. During school he played with the marching band and in the pit orchestra for Gastonia's first musical dinner theatre venture, The Spinning Wheel Players (1975) at the then-Gaston Mall. An avid reader and amateur rock historian, he returned to percussion mid-career as an avocation, playing with local semi-professional "cover" and "weekend-hobby" bands. They performed at sponsored events and charity fundraisers, opened shows for national touring bands, and filled in at local venues for cancelled performers. Bandmates remember Steve as a devoted fan of live music who scrutinized drummers' techniques, identifying the influences on players' styles. He was well-regarded for his sense of humor, affability and efforts to help others, both professionally and among friends. In addition to his mother, Steve is survived by partner, Christy Bruce of Gastonia, his young daughter, Madison Hayes, step-daughter, Jennifer Costner Tidwell of Gastonia, step-son, Jonathan Costner of Shelby, sister, Sandra Hayes of Waynesville and sister, Becky Brown of Mooresville. He was preceded in death by his father and a brother, Mark Hayes. A memorial celebration will be held at 1 pm Saturday, April 5 at First United Methodist Church of Gastonia, with Dr. David Christy and Dr. Jim Westmoreland officiating. Visitation follows the service in the church Family Life Center. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Madison Hayes Memorial Education Fund, Attn: J. Fernandez, 750 S. New Hope Rd., Gastonia 28054, to the FUMC Scholarship Fund, PO Box 218, Gastonia 28053, or The Robin Johnson Hospice House, PO Box 3984, Gastonia 28054. Greene Funeral Service and Crematorium of Gastonia is serving the Hayes family.