Oliver Caswell "O.C." Hayes

Oliver Caswell "O.C." Hayes August 31, 1936 - June 29, 2011 Oliver Caswell "O.C." Hayes, age 74, of St. Augustine, died on June 29, 2011 at the Bailey Family Center for Caring surrounded by his family. He was born in Brooker, Florida, graduated from Gainesville High School in 1954, and served his country in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. O.C. went on to attend the University of Florida, where he earned a Bachelors degree in Education and a Masters Degree in Education Administration. He later obtained his Doctorate in Christian Education from Freedom University. He moved to St. Augustine in the early sixties to serve as Principal of Mill Creek Elementary School, and later served as Principal of Ketterlinus Jr. High. In 1993, he retired as the Supervisor of Secondary Education in St. Johns County after serving in the district for more than 30 years. After retiring, he served as the Veteran Service Officer for St. Johns County from 1993 to 2001 and was instrumental in opening the V.A. Clinic in St. Augustine. O.C. enjoyed broadcasting St. Augustine High School Football Games for many years and was a huge Gator fan. He was active with the Jaycees and was a member of the Kiwanis Club. He was a member of McDowell Baptist Church and was formerly a longtime member and Sunday School Teacher at Freedom Baptist Church and Mill Creek Baptist Church. He is survived by his wife, Cookie Hayes of St. Augustine; daughters, Linda Dittmar and her husband, Roger, of Shelton, Washington, Wendy Schamble and her husband Russ, and Cristie Taylor and her husband Carl, all of St. Augustine; sons, Robert Hayes of Kissimmee, FL and Tommy Warden and his wife Annette of St. Augustine; a stepson, Scott Ross and his wife Eve of Jacksonville, FL; a brother, Wayne Hayes of Brooker, FL and eight grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Phillip and Edna Hayes; a brother, Clifton Hayes and sisters, Stella Lovely and Dolly Harrell. Services with military honors will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 6th, at St. Johns Family Funeral Home with Dr. Clarence Blalock officiating, followed by a reception at McDowell Baptist Church. A visitation will take place from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 5th, at St. Johns Family Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers donations in his memory can be made to: McDowell Baptist Church, 16 Bayview Drive, St. Augustine, FL 32084 or to: Bailey Center for Caring, c/o Community Hospice of N.E. FL., St. Augustine, FL. 32084. St. Johns Family Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.