Braden Obbie Hayes passed away on August 6, 2021. He left this world peacefully surrounded by family and friends. Bray lived life to the fullest. He loved hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, anything at the river and riding his motorcycle. Bray is survived by his father Kevin (Ol’ Man), his mother Marilyn (Ma), his sister Kelyn, his life-long friend Kyle (brother) and 5 nieces and nephews. There are many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends whose hearts were touched by Bray over the years. There were a few women that had been involved with Bray but no personal relationships compared to the family bond he had with his first niece, Mikkah. This bond was unbreakable. He adored her and she him. There were hours spent with Bray pushing her on the tire swing at the river. He convinced her to take her first trip on a hillrider. That won’t be explained here, but family and friends know all about it. When she was just six years old she went on her first motorcycle ride with her Uncle Bray. Bray recently gave his Ol Man and Ma gifts of custom knives with inscriptions on them. His Ol’ Man’s read “My Hero” and his Ma’s “My Angel”. Both cried when they received those gifts. His love for his sister was boundless. Through the years there were many sibling conflicts as one can imagine, but he loved his sissy more than life. There was rarely a weekend at the river that he wasn’t throwing a line in off the dock. There were times while still in high school he got in attendance issues for ditching to go hunting. He just loved being outdoors. This past deer season was the best he ever had, actually out doing his Ma! A multiple day hike with his Ma, Ol’ Man and brother in Hoosier National forest was a number of years back but often talked about around the camp fire he always made at the river. Even after his accident he took some river floats and his brother cut him no slack, dumping his butt out of the tube many times. He loved riding his bike especially with his Ma & Ol’Man. He rode like he lived, fast and hard. His Ol’Man tried but rarely kept up and his Ma just shook her head. Before his accident he worked for Polar Ice. It’s a wonderful company where his co workers and boss supported him. They built the ramp into his house for him. He wanted very badly to get back in the field. The river though was the place he loved most. It didn’t matter if he was fishing, floating or just sitting around a fire, he just loved being there. Last year while the family was at the river, his Ol’Man left for a few hours to attend a wake. Upon returning Bray said, when I die, I don’t want a wake in a funeral home, that means nothing to me. I want to have a party at the river. His family is following through on that wish and there will be a celebration of life for Bray held there. His family will be in touch.