Elbert Homer Hays 1900-1961

HAYS, KUITE, BLAGG

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 3/21/2011 at 00:05:15

Heart Attack Fatal for Elbert Hays
Elbert Homer Hays, 60, of Gruver, retired Rock Island employee and World War II veteran, died suddenly yesterday afternoon after suffering a heart attack just after entering a local physician’s office. Mr. Hays had retired from service with the Rock Island in 1953 due to a heart condition.

He was born at Winterest on Oct 17, 1900, the son of William and Lettie Hays. He attended the Union County schools until 1912 at which time his parents moved to Gruver and he completed his grade schooling in Gruver after which he attended Estherville High School.

On May 20, 1926, he was united in marriage to Sevilla Kuite at Fairmont, Minn. For a short time following their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Hays lived at Sibley and Granite but then returned to Gruver, where they have continued to make their home through the years. For 32 years he was employed by the Rock Island as a track and road superintendent, retiring in 1953 because of his health.

Mr. Hays was a member of the Gruver Presbyterian Church. He also was a past member of the Gruver Town Council.

He is survived by his widow, one daughter, Mrs. John (Fauntelle) Blagg, rural Estherville; one son, Elbert Hays, Jr., of Milwaukee, Wisc., and four grandchildren, Beth, Gary and David Blagg, and Laura Hays.

He was preceded in death by his parents and an infant son.

Funeral services for Mr. Hays are to be Saturday at 2 p.m. in the Gruver Presbyterian Church, the Rev. L. V. Osborne officiating. Burial will be in Oak Hill cemetery.

Pallbearers are to be William Ramsey, George Grems, Clifford Higgins, William Higinbotham, M. H. Chukker and Frank Barber.

Friends may call at the Sandin-Fuhrman Funeral Home from today until 10 a.m. tomorrow at which time the body will be taken to the church in Gruver to lie in state until time of the services. The casket will not be opened after the service.

The family has established a memorial fund. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, January 27, 1961)