Mr. Stephen (Steve) Duane Mayes, 55, of Perkinston, MS, passed away unexpectedly, on Saturday, September 26, 2015 in Biloxi, Mississippi from natural causes. He was born on August 22, 1960 in Warren, PA, the second child of Mr. and Mrs. R. Duane Mayes. He was preceded in death by his wife, Sam (Eleanor) Mayes, whom he married on July 3, 2005, his brother, Andrew Mayes, and his grandparents, Stephen and Katherine Kundla, and Bruce and Catherine Donoff, and many aunts and uncles.
As a child, Steve liked to be outside building things, playing baseball, and riding his bike. He graduated from Warren Area High School in 1978, and then Steve joined the Construction Battalion of the United States Navy, the Seabees. While in the Navy, he served in Puerto Rico, Sicily, Diego Garcia, Japan, Iceland and Cuba, retiring as a Builder, first class. (BU1). Steve made his home in Mississippi and continued his work in construction as a glazer and was an expert concrete finisher. He believed strongly in community and surrounded himself with supportive, encouraging friends who became his adopted family.
Steve loved God, his Catholic faith, and his country. He liked people and was always willing to share his time, a joke, or a story. He was a third degree Knight with the Knights of Columbus. He cherished his nieces and nephews– the ones born to him and the ones he chose to adopt. He enjoyed hunting, camping, and riding his Harley whenever he could. Those who knew him well will remember his upbeat attitude, his laugh, his generous spirit and his gentle heart.
Steve is survived by his parents, Duane and Joanna Mayes of Warren; 2 sisters: Michele (Steve) Huber of Millersville, MD, and Melissa Mayes (Andy) Rogers of Allison Park, PA, and 3 brothers: Gregory (Sue) Mayes, Blaine, WA, John (Bonnie) Mayes of Russell, PA, Joel (Lori) Mayes of Springhill, TN; and nieces and nephews Caleb Stein, Robert, Logan, and Marlee Frasier, Emily and Jon Huber, Joshua, Rachel, Noah, Evan and Ethan Mayes, Leo and Cordelia Rogers, and one great nephew: Drake Stein.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on October 1st at St. Michael Catholic Church in Biloxi, MS. Following a police escorted motorcade, Steve was inurned with military honors at Biloxi National Cemetery, in Biloxi, MS. A memorial Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, November 7th, at 1 PM at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, 11 Russell Street, Warren, PA., with Fr. James Gutting, Pastor and Fr. Richard J. Toohey, Pastor of St. Joseph R.C. Church, officiating, assisted by Deacon Joseph Lucia. Donations may be made to Wounded Warriors, Boys Town, or a charity of your choice.