Kenneth Dale Hayes, age 91, of Boone, passed away Wednesday, July 8, 2026, at Wake Forest Baptist Hospital in Winston Salem, NC.

Born in Watauga County April 3, 1935, he was a son of Leonard Finley and Carrie Moody Hayes.

Mr. Hayes was a long-time member of Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church in Vilas. He started his long-term career in the banking industry with Northwestern Bank and retired after 35 years. After his love of family, Dale's second passion has been his church. He loved to sing gospel music and was the choir director for approximately 40 years. He was a deacon for 55 years as well as the church clerk for 32 years. He enjoyed all the church children and directing Vacation Bible School for 35 years. He was involved in church missions for over 50 years. He was a veteran having served in the United States Army. He spent many years working with Gidion's International. He and his family loved to stay at their home away from home in Gatlinburg, TN.

Dale is survived by his wife Betty Storie Hayes of 65 years, daughter Rebekah Dalene Hayes, sister, Carolyn Farthing and sister-in-law Brenda Combs all of Boone; a number of nieces and nephews and his pets Gracie and Bailey.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by sisters, Nina Banner, Clara Baird and Josephine Herman; and brothers, Dwight, Roger, Tom, Raymond and Eugene Hayes.

Funeral services will be conducted 3:00 PM Sunday July 12, 2026, at Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church with military honors to follow. Interment will follow in Mount Lawn Memorial Park and Gardens. Pastor Jason Cornette will officiate.

The family will receive friends from 1:00 until 3:00, prior to the service.

In lieu of flower memorials may be made to Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church Land Fund C/O James Hayes 831 Bairds Creek Road, Vilas, North Carolina 28692 or to Gideons International, PO Box 3602, Boone, NC 28607.

Online condolences may be sent to the Hayes family at www.hamptonfuneralnc.com

Hampton Funeral and Cremation Service in charge of the arrangements.