02/20/2008

Notification of Death - Hoyt Patman Mayes

February 14, 2008

It is with sadness that we report that NFDA Past President Hoyt Patman Pat' Mayes, 75, of Norman, Oklahoma died Thursday, February 14, 2008 in Norman, Oklahoma. Pat was born July 8, 1932 on a farm south of DeKalb in Bowie County Texas. He was the only child of Hillie Clayton Mayes and Willie Ola Pinkham Mayes. Mayes attended public schools in Simms and Mount Pleasant, Texas, where he was a member of the graduating class of 1949 of the Mount Pleasant Senior High School. Mayes also attended Baylor University and the Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science.

Pat Mayes had two distinctive and different careers. He and his father came to Norman in January 1956 when they acquired a long established funeral establishment known as the Meyer & Meyer Funeral Home. The firm later became known as Mayes Funeral Directors and was relocated on Alameda Street. Mayes purchased the Guardian Funeral Homes in Oklahoma City in 1981 and later operated in nine locations within the state. The funeral homes were sold to a public company in 1989.

While engaged in funeral service Mayes was the past president of the Oklahoma Funeral Directors Association and President of the National Funeral Directors Association.

In 1990 Mayes acquired the First American Bank of Purcell. The bank now operates in nine locations throughout Oklahoma. First American Bank is a totally family owned bank with its corporate offices located in Norman. He was a member of the Oklahoma Banker's Association and the American Banker's Association.

Pat Mayes was always very active in the community. He served on the Norman Board of Education for twenty-five years, serving as president five times. He also was appointed by Speaker of the House Todd Heitt to serve on the Education Oversight Board, a state board that monitors academic progress of Oklahoma Schools. He was a founding member of the Norman Public School Foundation. He was a past president of the Norman Chamber of Commerce, where he recently served on the Governmental Relations Committee. He was active in the Oklahoma State Chamber of Commerce, serving on the Small Business Council. He was a past member of the board of directors of the American Red Cross, serving as chairman from 1998-1999 when the chapter changed its name to the Heart of Oklahoma Chapter. He had served as a founding board member of the Norman Alcohol Information Center from 1990 2007. He was a member of the board of directors of the Norman Regional Hospital Foundation. Early in his time in Norman he was active in the Jaycee's organization where he served a term as president.

He has served as President of the Heart of Oklahoma Economic Development Corporation. He was a member of the Purcell Airport Authority board of trustees and the advisory committee of the Joseph Harp Correctional Facility in Lexington. He was awarded Business Citizen of the Year by the Purcell Chamber of Commerce. He was a member of St. John's Episcopal Church. He has served on the vestry of the church numerous times and has served as Sr. Warden of the church twice. He recently completed his second term of serving as a member of the Standing Committee of the diocese of Oklahoma. He was recently honored as a Norman Business Legend by the Norman Business Association. In 2006 he was named Volunteer of the Year in the civic category by the Norman Junior League and the Norman United Way.

He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Gerry Mayes. He is survived by two daughters and their families. Suzanne McAuley and her husband Jim, as well as Cynthia Blankenship and her husband Charlie. He is also survived by three grandchildren, Brittany Blankenship, Beau Blankenship and Coleman McAuley.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the following organizations:
*St. John's Episcopal Church, Memorial Cross Fund, PO Box 2088, Norman, Ok 73070
*Norman Public School Foundation, 131 S. Flood, Norman, Ok 73069
*NAIC, PO Box 834, Norman, Ok 73069
*Norman Regional Hospital Foundation, 901 N. Porter, Norman, Ok 73071
*Purcell Public School Foundation, 919 N. 9th, Purcell, Ok 73080
*The Heart of Oklahoma Chapter of the American Red Cross, 1205 Halley Ave, Norman, Ok 73069

Services will be held at 10:00 AM, Tuesday, February 19, 2008, at St. John's Episcopal Church in Norman. Interment will follow at the Resthaven Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Services are under the direction of Havenbrook Funeral Home of Norman, Oklahoma. Send condolences online at http://www.havenbrookfuneralhome.com/Obituaries.htm

Open visitation is today through Monday, 9 am 9 pm.