Dillon Cecil Bayes was born on June 4, 1947 in Sardis, Ohio, and passed away peacefully on July 1, 2024 in Rogersville, Alabama. He was the 7th child of Orin Milford and Almeda Virginia Wohnhas Bayes. Dillon married his beautiful bride, Patti Elaine Shaffer Bayes, on July 8, 1967. Together, they raised two sons—Troy Alan Bayes and Todd Alexander Bayes—and one daughter—Jill Ann Jackson.

Dillon served as a minister for 33 years at churches of Christ in Newark, Delaware; Marietta, Ohio; New Martinsville, West Virginia; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; and Talladega, Alabama. Additionally, he spent 11 years serving as a vocational rehabilitation counselor for the State of South Carolina before his retirement in 2011.

Dillon was passionate about many things. He loved music and enjoyed listening to Elvis Presley and the Beatles. His favorite musicians were his grandchildren whom he loved to sing and play guitar with. He enjoyed reading westerns and history books. And most of all, he loved studying his Bible and serving the Lord.

No other passion compared to Dillon’s passion for the Lord, whom he loved dearly. He devoted his life to serving the Lord. Although Dillon retired from pulpit ministry after three decades of service in 2000, he never retired from encouraging his Christian brothers and sisters to love Christ. Dillon’s love of the Lord was a beacon of light to all who knew him and he will always be remembered as a faithful soldier of Christ.

Dillon was preceded in death by his parents, Orin and Almeda; his sisters—Wilma Bayes Tubaugh and Betty Bayes Redman; and his brothers—Larry and Glenn Bayes.

He is survived by his loving wife, Patti; his sons, Troy and wife, Debbie, of Greenville, South Carolina, Alex and wife, Andra, of Rogersville, Alabama; his daughter, Jill, and husband Jason of Jackson, Tennessee; his sisters: Lucille Ruble of Canton, Ohio; Ruth Ann Jackson of Sardis, Ohio; and Connie Price of Ravenswood, West Virginia; and his brother, Donald Bayes of Woodsfield, Ohio.

He is also survived by his nine grandchildren: Avery Alexander Bayes, and wife, Laura; Kate Bayes Tully, and husband, Kelton; Hannah Bayes Burchell, and husband, Buddy; Natalie Jackson Hammitt, and husband, Reagan; Lauren Ann Bayes; Jeffrey Tanner Bayes; Kara Beth Jackson; Dillon Shaffer Bayes, and Allison Olivia Jackson; and four great-grandchildren: Nora Tully, Eliza Tully, Jackson Bayes, and Hunter Hammitt.

Dillon treasured his life with his loving family. He will be missed by the many people whose lives he had the blessing of touching.

A private family celebration of life will be held.