Peter “Blue” Whelan Hayes, Sr., 85, of Iuka, MS, formerly of Carthage, MS, died Wednesday, April 4, 2017, at North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo. Peter Whelan Hayes, Sr. was the third child born to Marguerite Catherine Whelan Hayes and Thomas Staford Hayes, Sr. in Sulphur Springs, MS. He graduated from Camden High School in 1950 and then served four years in the United States Air Force during the Korean War. He married Clara Rose Bennett at St. Anne Catholic Church in Leake County on November 22, 1956. He attended Southeastern Louisiana College while working for Illinois Centeral Railroad. In 1960, Peter moved to Carthage and sold insurance. He later sold automobiles in Jackson until his retirement in 1999. After which he married Bess Young and moved to Iuka where he was a faithful member of St. Mary Catholic Church. Visitation is scheduled for 5 until 6:30 pm, Thursday, April 6, 2017 at Cutshall Funeral Home in Iuka. A rosary is scheduled for 6:30pm. Visitation on Friday, April 7, 2017, will be at St. James the Less Catholic Church in Corinth from 10 until mass. Funeral services are scheduled for 11:00 A.M., on Friday, April 7, 2017, at St. James the Less Catholic Church in Corinth, officiated by Father Mario Solorzano. Interment will follow in St. Anne Catholic Cemetery in Carthage, MS. Cutshall Funeral Home of Iuka, MS is entrusted with arrangements. He is survived by his daughter, Anna Maria Hayes Sherman (Michael) of Starkville, MS; his sibling, Charles Harrison Hayes (Bobbie); his grandchildren, Bennet Thomas Hayes, Marguerite Hayes Sherman Duke (John), Weslea Loring Hayes, and Thomas George Sherman; and his great grandchildren, John William Duke and Anna Rose Duke. He was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas Stanford Hayes, Sr. and Marguerite Catherine Whelan Hayes; his first wife, Clara Rose Bennett Hayes; his son, Peter Whelan Hayes, Jr.; his granddaughter, Anna Claire Sherman; his second wife, Bessie Mae Wilson Young Hayes; his siblings, Thomas Stanford Hayes, Jr. (Alice Lee), Sister Thomasita (Lena Mae) Hayes, Allie Hamel Hayes, Marguerite Catherine Hayes Jarrell (Dean), and Benjamin Muse Hayes (Rita). In lieu of flowers, donations made be made to St. Mary Catholic Church in Iuka at 205 Eastport Street, Iuka, MS 38852 or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. An online guestbook can be accessed at www.cutshallfuneralhome.com.
