Shining Star: Lucky Hayes

RIP Lucky Hayes, a shining star for us all to follow

Late yesterday afternoon I received a call that Lucky had passed away. Several of us attended the industry mixer at the Phoenix Film Festival last night and did our best to get the word out. It is important to continue doing that. Lucky was so very dear to so many. I will be preparing an e-blast notice to our membership and the production community to go out on Monday, but I wanted you to have the following information right now so that you may make plans:



The services will be held on Saturday, April 17  at 2 p.m.



Desert Hills Chapel

6500 W. Bell Rd.

Scottsdale AZ 85254



The family has asked that donations in Lucky’s name go to the Screen Actors Guild Foundation in lieu of flowers (Screen Actors Guild Foundation , 5757 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 124, Los Angeles CA 90036.)



My personal thanks for your expressions of support and standing by so faithfully. More later.



Don



Don Livesay - Arizona/Utah Executive Director

Screen Actors Guild

1820 E Ray Road

Chandler, AZ  85225



Editor's note:  Since the day I first met Lucky, nearly 17 years ago, we were friends. On every occasion possible I would sit near or by her, we would share meals and walk together. She had a wonderful shining spirit and a soul that few others share. She was as solid unionist, believing in the day-player, extra, star and everyone in between. She fought for the branches, for open communications, for the most humble among us. I feel as if there is one fewer star shining in the sky, and the world is a bit more dim from her loss. To Hoot and her family, to the Arizona Branch who were family to her, and to all of my fellow members of the Regional Branch Division, the National Board and the President's Caucus, all I can say is you are not alone in your grief and in your prayers. God bess Lucky Hayes.

-Art Lynch



Very well stated Art. My heart is heavy today, as it grieves the loss of a dear friend. Her Christmas cards were always handmade. "Thanks for all you do," she'd write. Lucky, you were one of a kind. I will ache with the loss of you.
Be well, my sister.
Cece



Thanks Lucky for your passion, your compassion and your smile.

You lit up our world with your gifts and it's a better place
because you were here. 

May we all go forward powered by her spirit as an example of all
she stood for.  As painful as this is today, I am carrying many
wonderful memories of her laugh and her warmth that we were
all "lucky" enough to experience.

God bless her and her family.

Mike

Mike Pniewski
Actor, Speaker Author



Bravo, Art.

Brava, Lucky.  Take your bow.

Mac

Saturday April 17: SAG's National Board sits in silent tribute.

God Rest Thee, Lucky Heyes

Please let everyone know that the service here was lovely. It began at 2 p.m. with an  announcement  I made that the our National Board  was meeting in LA and had suspended its agenda specifically at this hour to honor Lucky. I made a point of saying that unity was a driving force in Lucky’s leadership.  And as friends and family joined together in Scottsdale, representatives in SAG from all over the country were doing the same thing, and together – here and in LA – we were now standing in unity to remember this very special lady.

Thank you for sending along your kind words.


Don Livesay
Arizona Executive Director

See Also: A Shining Star and Obituary.


Below is the flier printed and distributed at the National Board Meeting this weekend:

Lucky Hayes


Heaven got Lucky last week.

Today we join Lucky's family in a memorial service which is taking place at this very
moment in Scottsdale, Arizona. The service has begun there, and so shall ours here.
The passing of our friend brings to three the number of union family members the
Regional Division has lost this past year, with Jim Hutchison's death, one year ago
yesterday and Jim Huston's death on January 28th of this year.

Now Lucky's star has joined theirs.

Lucky was born in Houston, Texas and went from there to Florida, Kansas, California, Arizona, Alabama and Tokyo. Along the way she was a nurse, model, writer and editor.

According to our Lucky, she "flunked" her first film acting class, which then freed her up
to become a professional actor in film, television, radio and voice-overs.

She coauthored the book "That's No Way To Act!" and was a beloved teacher and mentor of the
craft. In our union world, Lucky was a member of the Screen Actors Guild for 36 years,
and was President of the AZ Branch. She was also an active board member of AFTRA -
Phoenix Local for 32 years. That's quite a legacy.

One of Lucky's fondest memories was when she got to hug an eight-foot grizzly bear in
Arizona when she guest starred on the premiere of The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams.
Of it, she said "Typecasting? Nah." She also described herself as a very careless woman
when, as she put it, she "lost the same actor child in two separate TV series: The Life and
Times of Grizzly Adams and Oregon Trail."