Robert Neil Hayes

Robert Neil Hayes was born on March 17, 1955 in Alameda, California to James and Erma Hayes. The first few years of his life were spent living in various locations throughout the Pacific Northwest. He gave his life to Jesus Christ as a third-grader in Portland, Oregon and henceforth, with never a doubt, dedicated his life to serving God. When the Hayes family moved to Anchorage, Alaska, Bob took up riflery and cross-country skiing, and began to work on and fly airplanes. After graduating in 1973 from Diamond High School in Anchorage, Alaska, he attended Oregon State University in Corvallis for one year He returned to Alaska and began working a one-week-on/one-week-off schedule at Prudhoe Bay. During the weeks not working at Prudhoe Bay, Bob served at Sand Lake Bible Church in Anchorage. It was during this time that he developed a love for ministry while working with kids and teens at Victory Bible and Solid Rock Bible camps. He was encouraged to pursue a ministry degree at Multnomah School of the Bible. While singing in the Multnomah choir, he met his only love, Wanda Wood. They were married on May 25, 1979, raised two sons and one daughter, and enjoyed 37 years of marriage together. After Bible School and the birth of their two sons, Bob and Wanda served with American Missionary Fellowship at Camp Morrow in Wamic, Oregon. Bob’s diverse career included employment as an airplane mechanic, oil field worker, youth group and Bible Camp leader, missionary, construction worker, truck driver, stainless steel drafter and computer systems administrator. His most recent success was as an engineer with the Intel super computer team in Dupont, Washington and Rico Rancho, New Mexico. Bob loved to lead music, small groups, communion, and devotionals. He served as an Elder and on a variety of committees at Portland Alliance Church and Lake City community Church. Bob could fix just about anything. He played a variety of musical instruments and loved rebuilding motorcycles, hunting, fishing, and the outdoors. He once faced down a grizzly bear with just a chain saw and a pistol. Honest, faithful, dependable, hardworking, caring, giving, gracious, gentle in spirit, a friend to everyone and diligent in everything he did. On February 3, 2017, Bob entered into the joy set before him when His Lord and Savior called him home. Peace came over his face. Those left behind for now are his loving wife of 37 years, Wanda, sons Nathan and Samuel (Alicia), daughter Hannah, granddaughter Cora Lee, and numerous extended family members.