Hays was born on June 7, 1935 in Minden, Texas. He died peacefully on June 2, 2014 at his home in Spring, Texas.

He is preceded in death by his son, Floyd, Jr.; parents, Cynthia and John M. Gage; two brothers and three sisters. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Barbara Murphy Gage, formerly of Livingston, Texas; two beautiful daughters, Brenda Gage Washbourne and husband, Graham of Huntsville, Texas and Beki Gage Orsack and husband, Mark of Spring, Texas; three granddaughters, Brooke Orsack, Brandy and Ashley Alexander; two grandsons, Blake Orsack, Kirk Alexander and wife, Brandi; brother, Jesse "Dutt" Gage and sister, Katherine Welch, both of Henderson, Texas; along with numerous other relatives and friends.

His many talents were, church song leader, baseball umpire, a guitar back-up on Jim Reeves Radio Station, and Honor Guard for President Eisenhower during the Cold War in Germany. Hays was an U.S. Army Sargent from 1958 to 1962 under General Sam Houston IV.