Obituary for Bruce Marlon Hayes
Bruce Marlon Hayes passed away on October 29, 2022 at the age of 60 in his longtime home in Katy, Texas. Through his years of battling late-stage cancer, Bruce carried his cross daily and continued putting others before himself until the end. His final days were spent surrounded by loving family and friends.
Bruce was born to Marlon and Eleanor Hayes on August 5, 1962. He was raised in Coral Gables in Miami, Florida, as part of a large family with two sisters, Beverly and Barbra, and an older brother, Bobby. He was a fundamentally sound, if deceptively slow, athlete who grew up heavily involved in the local youth center, and went on to play football and soccer for Coral Gables High School. As an adolescent, Bruce was led to Christ and mentored by Pastor Dan Yeary, the Senior Pastor at University Baptist Church. He maintained an unwavering commitment to his Christian faith for the remainder of his life.
Following high school, Bruce relocated to Waco, Texas to attend Baylor University. He was a walk-on athlete playing quarterback for the Baylor Bears, and a member of the 1983 Astro-BlueBonnet Bowl team. At university, Bruce met lifelong friends and his eventual wife, Sharon Seeley. Upon graduating, Bruce became a missionary working with the Southern Baptist Mission Board and teaching English in Fukuoka, Japan for 8 years. Sharon eventually joined Bruce in Japan, and the two married on June 1, 1991.
Bruce and Sharon spent years as foster parents, eventually adopting their two children, Brady and Anthony. Now with a family, the pair settled down in Katy, Texas. As a family, they attended Kingsland Baptist Church, where Bruce was a youth group leader and active member. Later in life, Bruce and Sharon attended Grace Fellowship. Though not always formally in ministry, Bruce’s ministry was in his approach to life. Each person he encountered presented an opportunity to serve, and Bruce served them well. Through his roles in both the church and in his career, Bruce brought many to Jesus.
A beloved community figure, Bruce was a teacher and coach at Cinco Ranch High School for nearly 20 years and impacted countless students and faculty members throughout his tenure. Going anywhere in Katy with Bruce meant setting aside time to talk with his innumerable friends you would likely encounter. His accolades include winning Cinco Ranch Teacher of the Year and KatyISD Teacher of the Year awards. Bruce also taught in Japan, Miami, Arlington, and Conroe, and maintained contact with past students from each career stop.
Bruce was preceded in death by his father and mother, Marlon and Eleanor, and his brother, Bobby. He is survived by his wife, Sharon, his two children, Brady and Anthony, Brady’s wife Lauren, and his remaining family: Tom and Barbra (Hayes) Harley, parents to Elizabeth, Eleanor and Thomas. Tracy Hayes, parent to Sam and Alex. Paul and Beverly (Hayes) Carney, parents to Tripp, Kendal, and Dylan. He is also survived by the countless honorary children and family he has accumulated through years of weekly Bible studies, inspired classroom lessons, and coaching moments, who were shown Christ’s love through Bruce’s example.
A service celebrating Bruce’s life and undying faith will be held on Saturday, November 12, 2022 at 10:00 AM at Second Baptist Church 1463 Campus in Katy, Texas, the Reverend Wes Yeary presiding. Given Bruce’s involvement with special needs causes, his family requests that, in lieu of flowers, gifts be made to a GoFundMe for Joy Prom: https://www.gofundme.com/f/joy-prom?qid=e4a68ae7729b851bf459c9522df5c9a9
Bruce was born to Marlon and Eleanor Hayes on August 5, 1962. He was raised in Coral Gables in Miami, Florida, as part of a large family with two sisters, Beverly and Barbra, and an older brother, Bobby. He was a fundamentally sound, if deceptively slow, athlete who grew up heavily involved in the local youth center, and went on to play football and soccer for Coral Gables High School. As an adolescent, Bruce was led to Christ and mentored by Pastor Dan Yeary, the Senior Pastor at University Baptist Church. He maintained an unwavering commitment to his Christian faith for the remainder of his life.
Following high school, Bruce relocated to Waco, Texas to attend Baylor University. He was a walk-on athlete playing quarterback for the Baylor Bears, and a member of the 1983 Astro-BlueBonnet Bowl team. At university, Bruce met lifelong friends and his eventual wife, Sharon Seeley. Upon graduating, Bruce became a missionary working with the Southern Baptist Mission Board and teaching English in Fukuoka, Japan for 8 years. Sharon eventually joined Bruce in Japan, and the two married on June 1, 1991.
Bruce and Sharon spent years as foster parents, eventually adopting their two children, Brady and Anthony. Now with a family, the pair settled down in Katy, Texas. As a family, they attended Kingsland Baptist Church, where Bruce was a youth group leader and active member. Later in life, Bruce and Sharon attended Grace Fellowship. Though not always formally in ministry, Bruce’s ministry was in his approach to life. Each person he encountered presented an opportunity to serve, and Bruce served them well. Through his roles in both the church and in his career, Bruce brought many to Jesus.
A beloved community figure, Bruce was a teacher and coach at Cinco Ranch High School for nearly 20 years and impacted countless students and faculty members throughout his tenure. Going anywhere in Katy with Bruce meant setting aside time to talk with his innumerable friends you would likely encounter. His accolades include winning Cinco Ranch Teacher of the Year and KatyISD Teacher of the Year awards. Bruce also taught in Japan, Miami, Arlington, and Conroe, and maintained contact with past students from each career stop.
Bruce was preceded in death by his father and mother, Marlon and Eleanor, and his brother, Bobby. He is survived by his wife, Sharon, his two children, Brady and Anthony, Brady’s wife Lauren, and his remaining family: Tom and Barbra (Hayes) Harley, parents to Elizabeth, Eleanor and Thomas. Tracy Hayes, parent to Sam and Alex. Paul and Beverly (Hayes) Carney, parents to Tripp, Kendal, and Dylan. He is also survived by the countless honorary children and family he has accumulated through years of weekly Bible studies, inspired classroom lessons, and coaching moments, who were shown Christ’s love through Bruce’s example.
A service celebrating Bruce’s life and undying faith will be held on Saturday, November 12, 2022 at 10:00 AM at Second Baptist Church 1463 Campus in Katy, Texas, the Reverend Wes Yeary presiding. Given Bruce’s involvement with special needs causes, his family requests that, in lieu of flowers, gifts be made to a GoFundMe for Joy Prom: https://www.gofundme.com/f/joy-prom?qid=e4a68ae7729b851bf459c9522df5c9a9