Charles Hayes Obituary

SALEM - Charles Manley "Charlie" Hayes, 85, of Salem, Ohio, passed away on January 25, 2026, due to complications related to Alzheimer's disease.

Charlie was born in Cambridge, Ohio, on July 19, 1940, to John McCollum and Martha Kathryn (Mathews) Hayes. After Charlie graduated from Cambridge High School in 1958, he went on to earn his teaching degree at Wilmington College. Charlie was stubborn, determined, and opinionated, which served him well on the football field, as he played right tackle on the varsity football teams at both schools. His passion for football was lifelong; he divided his attention between the Ohio State Buckeyes, the Mount Union Purple Raiders, the New England Patriots, and the Chicago Bears.

After college graduation in 1963, Charlie taught mechanical drawing and drafting at Salem High School, where he was also the defensive coordinator for the varsity football team. Later, he left teaching and coaching to become a long distance truck driver. Fittingly, when he stopped truck driving, he took up teaching again – this time teaching truck driving at TDDS in Lake Milton, Ohio. After he retired from teaching truck driving, he satisfied his need to drive on his tractor mowing his lawn.

While teaching at SHS, Charlie met the love of his life, Helen Marie Potter, the cute redhead teaching math across the hall. Helen Marie got their love affair started by inviting him for coffee. Charlie said yes to her invitation even though he didn't like coffee. They were married for 58 years; and together, they raised three children, two German shepherds, two Shih Zhus, three Siamese cats, and many other dogs and cats, cheerfully taking on those pets that their children could no longer care for.

Charlie was predeceased by his parents, John and Kathryn, his brothers, John and Bernard, and his infant sister, Margaret Kathryn. He is survived by his wife, Helen Marie, his daughter, Heidimarie (David Yaroch), his sons, David (Stephanie) and Chad (Geovanna), his grandsons, Zachary (Anna) Hayes, Nicholas (Alaina) Hayes, and Michael (Sarah) Rambo, his granddaughter, Julissa, his great-granddaughter, Presley, and his sister, Josephine Ellen "JoEllen" (Donald) Shimek.

The family will hold a celebration of life for "Grumpy Bear" at a future date. They are grateful for the comfort and support given to him and his family by the staff at Lexington Place in Salem and Saint Mary's Alzheimer's Center in Columbiana.

Arrangements are being handled by Stark Memorial Funeral Home.

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