Lester Earl Hayes

Lester Earl Hayes of Enterprise passed away on Monday, October 12, 2026 at Flowers Hospital surrounded by his family and in the arms of his loving wife. He was 71.

Funeral Service will be held on Friday, October 16, 2026 at Bethany Baptist Church at 2:00 PM with Rev. Corbin Griffin officiating and Searcy Funeral Home and Crematory directing. Burial will follow at New Brockton City Cemetery with full military honors. The family will receive friends from 1:00 PM until service time.

Les served 26 years in the Army and retired as a Staff Sergeant.

Les loved Alabama football and enjoyed playing badminton and tennis. He had a special love for writing, especially poetry, and enjoyed sharing his poems with his family. Above all else, Lester loved his family more than anything in the world. They were the most important part of his life, and he cherished the time he spent with them.

He was preceded in death by his brothers and his parents.

Survivors include his wife of 28 years, Kathy Darlene Hayes, Enterprise, AL; six children, Airen Hayes (Alyssa), New Brockton, AL, Jason Hayes (Megan), Dothan, AL, Lindsay Smith (Anthony), Enterprise, AL, Eric Paul (Shannon), Enterprise, AL, Ashley Paul (Meghan), New Brockton, AL, Wesley Paul, Marianna, AL; 13 grandchildren, Jacob, Victoria, Triniti (Jadyn), Reegan, Jaiden, Sydney, Juliana, Karsyn, Jaxon, Forrest, Aliyah, MaKenna, Trenton; 1 great grandchild, Dutton; several nieces and nephews.