Alfred Van Hayes, age 51, died in his sleep on September 8, 2007 at his home in Durant. Services will be held at the First Church of the Nazarene located at Ninth and Texas in Durant on Tuesday at 10 a.m.

Alfred was born to Wilma Smith Hayes and Acie Van Hayes, Jr. in El Paso, Texas on February 2, 1956.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents Acie Van and Margret Hayes of Albany and Alfred and Fannie Chavez of Silver City, New Mexico.

Alfred was raised in Silver City, New Mexico where he attended school until he graduated in 1974 from Silver High School. Alfred was an active wrestler and an All State Football player for two years. His high academic scores and his talent playing football opened opportunities for him to attend the college of his choice.

He is survived by his daughter, Holly Ann, and his son, Tyler Van, of Okeechobee, Florida. He is also survived by his wife, Virginia Hayes of Durant; her three children and eight grandchildren; both his parents, mother Wilma Hayes-Rominger and stepfather Danny Rominger of Elephant Butte, New Mexico and father Acie Van Hayes, Jr. of Durant; his sisters, Terry Hayes and Darlene Nordgaarden of Houston, Texas and his brother, Kelly Hayes of Hesperia, California, wife Melissa and their three children; and his aunts and uncle and numerous cousins and second cousins.

Alfred had a multihued working life starting in the silver mines in New Mexico, an oil rig in Midland, Texas, working on ranches in Arizona, Florida, New Mexico and Oklahoma before settling in Durant and working in the meat department at Wal-Mart. He found his calling as a butcher and graduated in Amarillo, Texas. He is remembered by his family and friends as an honest worker, a tender man with a heart of gold and a valuable friend. To the two most important women in his life, his mother and wife, he was always devoted and they were proud to call him their best friend. Those fortunate to have known him were richer for the experience of loving and being loved by him.

He will be profoundly missed, but we can find peace in knowing he is now walking with his Lord Jesus Christ and free of the encumbrances of this life on earth.

Pallbearers will be: Danny Crites, Joe Wright, Bob Large, Johnny Lawson, John Justus, and Darwin Sicking.

Family hour will be from 6-8 PM Monday Sept. 10, 2007 at Dalton-Holmes Funeral Home.

Condolences may be sent the family at dhfh@communicomm.com. Dalton-Holmes Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.