AUGUSTA – Yvette Alice Charette Hayes, 86, of 44 Sewall St., Augusta, died peacefully Wednesday night, July 7, at MaineGeneral at Gray Birch.

One of six children, she was born Sept. 3, 1917, in Rumford, the daughter of Edouard Charette, a barber and his wife, Bernadette Bernier Charette. Raised in Sanford, she grew up in the Great Depression and worked to help support the family after her father became disabled. Still in her teens, she apprenticed at her uncle’s tailor shop. A skilled seamstress, over the years she designed and made clothing for herself, family, children and others.

In 1941, she married Philip Edward Hayes of Portland, whom she had met at a big band concert on the Old Orchard Pier. Following his return from service in the African Theater during World War II, they moved to Gardiner to raise a family. They were married for 52 years.

Throughout her life she pursued her interests in creativity, antiques, art, fashion and crafts even while raising her three children over the course of 30 years. Early in her marriage she created crafts that were carried by Porteous, Mitchell and Braun.

In the 1950s she established a sewing school in Gardiner, arranging with the Singer Sewing Machine Co. for the use of equipment and presented student fashion shows for the public. In the 1970s, 80s and 90s, she and her husband established and ran a successful antique business, The Barnfull in Manchester and then Augusta.

She organized courses in antiques, giving many collectors their start. She and her husband bought and restored several Maine camps together. She enjoyed flower gardening and decorating. After the death of her husband, she converted her garage at their Farmingdale home to a workshop to provide creative opportunities for neighborhood children.

Mrs. Hayes is survived by her son, Philip P. Hayes and his wife, Bonnie of Manchester; her daughters, Anita Morrissey and her husband, Peter of Sidney and Connie Hayes and her husband, George Terrien of Portland; grandsons, Mark Hayes of Miami, Jonathan Hayes and his wife, Leah of Farmington, Paul Morrissey and Jim Gardner of New York City and Lt. Stephen Morrissey and his wife, Stacy of Suffolk, Va; great-granddaughter, Josie Marie Morrissey; her niece, Dr. Susan Charette and her husband, Michael Amster and son, Adam of California; her husband’s sister, Teresa Hayes of Portland; her sister-in-law, Bernice Charette of California; and many nephews and nieces.