Hayes W. Brooks: Obituary

Hayes W. Brooks, age 92 of Jasper, passed away Friday, January 17, 2020 at The Villas of Canterfield Assisted Living in Cumming, GA.

Mr. Brooks is survived by his daughters and sons-in-law: Kathy & Darel Pickenpaugh of Union, WV and Liz & Marty Evans of Ball Ground; sons and daughters-in-law: Bill & Betsy Brooks of Cumming, Bob & Julia Brooks of Milton and Tom & Maureen Brooks of Marietta; son: Sam Brooks of Hoschton; brother and sister-in-law: Earl & Brenda Brooks of Jasper; sister: Martha Krueger of Stuart, FL; six grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 42 years, Mary Lois Brooks; parents, Carl & Lela Brooks; brother and sister-in-law, Harry & Syble Brooks; and special friend, Kathleen Thomason Wilson.

Mr. Brooks lived most of his life in Jasper. He also lived in Atlanta, Cumming and Sugar Hill.

A master electrician and plumber, Mr. Brooks worked as a property management supervisor for hospitals in Gwinnett and Pickens counties; taught at the Pickens Technical Institute (now the Chattahoochee Technical College in Jasper), and served as an electrical code inspector for the City of Atlanta, and as an electrical and mechanical contractor across northern Georgia.

Committed to his Christian faith, Mr. Brooks was a deep, daily reader of the Bible. He enjoyed exploring history, including his native southern Appalachia and the history and culture of his North Carolina ancestors’ Cherokee neighbors, northern Georgia, biographies, nature, stock car racing, organized crime and a range of other historical topics and fiction classics.

Especially during his retirement years, Mr. Brooks enjoyed spirited conversations and storytelling with friends and regular folks he met in community stores, museums, churches and public libraries across north Georgia at home and several miles away. Family members and friends accompanying Mr. Brooks in those day trips learned to not be surprised by the more-than-occasional stranger stepping over from the next aisle or through a front door to suddenly spring up to say, “Hey, Hayes!”

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM Monday, January 20, 2020 at the Chapel of Cagle Funeral Home, with Rev. Jerry Banks officiating.

Interment will be at Sunrise Memorial Gardens in Jasper.

Pallbearers: Joseph Pickenpaugh, Luke Evans, Daniel Brooks, Justin Brooks, Blake Brooks. Junior pallbearer: Kayson Evans.

Mr. Brooks and his family wish to express their profound gratitude to his caregivers at The Villas of Canterfield and Golden Rule Hospice.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Jasper First Baptist Church Building Fund, 198 E. Church St. Jasper, GA 30143; Good Samaritan Health & Wellness Center, 175 Samaritan Dr. Jasper, GA 30143 and Sequoyah Regional Library System, 116 Brown Industrial Parkway Canton, GA 30114.

Cagle Funeral Home is honored to serve the Brooks family.