SPARTA — Mr. Howard Edgar Mayes, 82, of Sparta, passed away Monday, Oct. 11, 2010, at Alleghany Memorial. Mr. Mayes was born in Surry County Aug. 13, 1928, to Joseph and Grace Mae Hawks Mayes Blevins. He was a retired subcontractor with Town and Country Builder. Surviving are sons, Lewis Strausser, Billy Mayes, Edward Mayes and Steven Mayes; daughters, Carolyn Santee, Debbie Frick and Linda Queen; 13 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; brothers, Curtis Mayes and Bobby Martin; sisters, Hazel Nixon, Laner Layell and Nell Lowe; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, Mr. Mayes was preceded in death by a grandson, Robert Santee; and brothers, Leon Mayes, Lawrence Mayes and Lee Roy Mayes. A memorial service will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 14, 2010, at Peoples Church by the Rev. Gene Brinkley and the Rev. Terry Johnson. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Surry County Humane Society at 230 Frederick St., Mount Airy, NC 27030. Online condolences may be made at www.moodyfuneralservices.com.