David William Hays 7/4/54 – 7/8/22 at the age of 68, sailed away from this life in the comfort of his home surrounded by close family and friends. He was born in the sleepy little town Ligonier PA, and at the young age of 3, was thrusted into the space-age when he moved to Merritt Island after his father got a job working for NASA.
David was the third of seven boys that made up the Hays family. What an exciting time and place to grow up as a child. He had front row seats for all the early Redstone, Jupiter, and later Apollo Rocket Launches. If he wasn’t building forts with his band of brothers in the woods that surrounded our home, he was out on his motorized ten-foot aluminum Boot. David Loved the Water.
During David’s teenage years he traded in his johnboat for a 16-foot Oday Sailboat, that he appropriately named, “Lil Itch”. He also became a motorcycle enthusiast, a joy that stayed with him most of his life. He always said taken a motorcycle ride after a hard day’s work was his therapy. It was just a few years ago he traded in his motorcycle for a 30-foot sailboat which he appropriately named “Reel Therapy”.
After High school David pursued a career as an electrician. He self-taught, studied and passed the Electrical Contractor Exam and became a master electrician opening his own Company “Hays Electric”. He brought new meaning to the expression “it Pays to see Hays”. David had a heart of gold, and it was expressed by the generous ways he treated his customers. David often would throw things in for free to his customers which he always said to me “what goes around comes around, and you know what, he was right. After just a short year of being in business David did not need to advertise, word of mouth kept the phones ringing. His generosity not only help his company, but it also fulfilled his heart and gave him purpose.
David was the rock of the Hays family, often throwing parties and cook outs drawing his family and friends together. He was an extremely hard worker and worked up to three weeks before leaving us. Before the end, David made the decision to accept Jesus into his heart, who knew Jesus needed a good electrician. His leaving has left a large hole in the hearts of all that knew him
David is survived by his three children, Shauna, Chris, and Seaira, his six brothers, Bob, Rick, Todd, Larry, Hal and Paris, his four grandchildren, Cory, Kristian, Sebastian, and Blake, and his three great grandchildren, Brandon, Fabiana, and Alma.
There will be a celebration of life on Sunday July 31, noon-?, at the Americas Best Value Inn located at “Highpoint” Cocoa at the intersection of 528 and US1, 3220 N. Cocoa Blvd, Cocoa Fl 32926.
If you would like to donate in the memory of David, send donations to the Astronaut Memorial Foundations, amfcse.org, a not-for-profit organization.