Mr. Edward B. Hayes, age 83 of Yulee passed away on Friday, July 20, 2018 at the Warner Center for Caring.

Born in Birmingham, Alabama he was the son of the late John F. and Doris Allen Hayes.

Ed had a lifelong love of aircraft and flying. That love began at an early age when he was just �hanging around� a small local airport. He went on from just �hanging around� to helping fuel aircraft there and eventually wound up in the cockpit learning to fly.

He served his country in the U. S. Air Force where he was involved in the Bay of Pigs operation and his security clearance would allow him to be involved as an air traffic controller in test flights of some of the Air Force�s stealth aircraft. While in the Air Force, he was sent to the University of Alabama to be part of its ROTC program.

Ed then went on to work for the FAA as an Air Traffic Controller. He worked in Oklahoma City and New Orleans and came to the Jacksonville Center. He then worked at Craig Field in Jacksonville as an Approach Controller. It was during that time he chose not to go out on strike in the early 1980�s. Because of that decision he was transferred back to the Jacksonville Center where he would finish out his career with the FAA.

Ed�s love of flying continued throughout his lifetime. From private pilot to flight instructor to Air Traffic Controller he loved all things flying. Even in his later years he was active with the Radio Controlled Aircraft Association in Jacksonville.

In addition to flying, he loved NASCAR, University of Alabama Football, and enjoyed riding his motorcycles. He was also a collector of antique cars.

He leaves behind his wife, Alice Faye Hayes and her children, LaVerne (Angela) Spencer of Jacksonville and Amy (Jeff) Campbell of Middleburg.

There will be no local services.

He will be laid to rest beside his parents in Forest Hill Cemetery in Birmingham, Alabama.