Hayes Adkison

Funeral services for Hayes Adkison, 82, of Nacogdoches will be held at 11:00AM on Thursday July 8, 2021 at Laird Funeral Home with Brandon Adkison officiating. Interment will follow at Holly Springs Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 10:00AM to 11:00AM on Thursday July 8, 2021 at Laird Funeral Home.

Mr. Adkison passed away on Monday July 5, 2021 in Nacogdoches. He was born on January 10, 1939 in Paxton, Texas.

     Hayes and Marie Curbow met at Holly Springs Community Center in 1955. After the marriage, Hayes told her one time, “This is where it all started, and this is where it will end.” Hayes was an extremely talented man. From building cars, and doing mechanics, to building his house. He was one of the best friends a person could have. He never met a stranger, and if he could help anyone, he was more than willing. He was a mentor to several young men back in the day. He taught them how to mechanic. To name a few: Jacky Hunter, Johnny Shivers, Don Hetrick, Mike Greer, Steve Lee, Pat Vardeman, Bub Vardeman and Keith Millard.

     Hayes was a drag racer and for many years he and his young son Gary spent many hours working on his race cars, then as a family they all went to the races. He was really good at this sport. He was a national record holder for several years.

     Hayes was always the life of the party. Sometimes at the races on the starting line, he did a thing he called jumping through a broom. He would hold the broom out in front of him and flat footed he would jump through it forward, then backward. He was definitely a crowd pleaser.

     Hayes was extremely hardheaded too and would run a car all the way to empty before putting gas in it. One time Marie had told him repeatedly to stop for gas, but he did not, so they ran out just before they got home. Hayes walked to the house to get the truck and began to push her back to the house. Marie did not realize that the steering wheel was locked, and as they approached the driveway, he pushed for the turn, and she went right on past the driveway! He was upset to say the least. To the kids, it was funny.

     After his drag racing days, he got into restoring classic cars, and his work always spoke for himself. He was a perfectionist, as a result built some beautiful cars. Some projects took several other cars to make one. Most of these cars were built for his brother Dewey Jr. Junior was more than just a brother to Hayes, he was one of his closest friends, and he held a very special place in his heart for him. Gary and Junior, both had reserved spots in Hayes’ heart. During his racing years he always had his sidekick with him, his son, Gary.

     Hayes was also a great dancer. He and Marie were a sight to see on the dance floor. He would take his daughter Debbie (Deb as he called her) and Marie dancing. Deb loved dancing with her daddy, that is a fond memory of hers.

     As you see, Hayes was an extremely fun loving, always laughing, great friend to many. Someone who will be greatly missed.

     Hayes is survived by his wife, Marie Evelyn Adkison; daughter, Debbie Hetrick and husband Don; son, Gary Adkison and wife LaNita; siblings, Jerry Adkison and wife Ruth, Dewey Adkison Jr. and wife Mary, and Bobbie Bell; grandchildren, Jerry Reneau and wife Rachel, Brandon Adkison and wife Alicia, Brittany Middlebrook and husband George, Victoria Sides and husband, Montana, and Michael Hetrick; and 14 great grandchildren whom he adored.

     He is preceded in death by his beloved parents Isaac and Edna Adkison; grandson, Bryson Adkison and siblings, Alton Adkison, Royce Adkison and Maxie Box.

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