HAYS, Orval Franklin

HAYS, JOHNSON, HANCOCK, HAMPTON, IWED, TRENKLE, WHITFIELD, LIGOTTI, DUKES, REHA, IRWIN, DOLECHECK, DUFF, MILLSAP

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 4/14/2014 at 15:07:08

Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, April 10, 2014

OBITUARY ~ ORVAL FRANKLIN HAYS
October 01, 1931 ~ April 04, 2014

Orval Franklin Hays, son of Virgil & Nellie (Johnson) Hays, was born October 1, 1931 rural Diagonal, Iowa. Orval graduated from Diagonal High School in 1950. He served in the US Army, in a M*A*S*H unit, during the Korean War; he was honorably discharged in 1954.

Orval was united in marriage Georgia Hancock in December 1952. Together they had three sons: James, John, and Gary. He was later divorced and married Ula Hampton in 1977. Orval lived in rural Taylor and Ringgold Counties before moving to Afton, Iowa in 2010.

Farming was an integral part of Orval's life after returning from the war. He farmed in Ringgold and Taylor counties. He was also a feed salesman for Moorman's Feed Company. Orval was employed by the US Postal Service and served as an officer on the Creston Police Force. Orval was employed for many years by Creston Tractor Sales (which later became Barker Implement). This is where he retired from.

Orval enjoyed being outdoors and loved activities such as hunting and fishing. He was an excellent marksman with a firearm and rarely missed a shot. He enjoyed being involved in family functions, and liked grilling out. He also enjoyed his John Deere tractor collection.

Orval passed away April 4, 2014 in Creston, Iowa. He was preceded in death by his mother Nellie Hays; father Virgil Hays; step-mother Mildred Hays; step-sister Ann Iwed; and special aunt & uncle Bessie & Lee Trenkle.

Those left to cherish his memory include his wife Ula Hays of Afton, Iowa; sons Jim Hays of Morrison, IL, John (Lori) Hays of Creston, IA, and Gary (Kathy) Hays of Afton, IA; grandchildren William (Dane) Hays, Aaron Hays, Miranda Hays, Samantha (Brandon) Whitfield, Candy (Carlo) Ligotti, Maria (Brad) Dukes, and Nakia (Jordy) Reha; 9 great grandchildren; brother Art (Carol) Hays of Council Bluffs, IA; sister Lois Irwin of Exira, IA; step-brother Manard Dolecheck of Louisiana; in-laws Vera (Rich) Duff of Adel, IA and Elaine Millsap of Ravenwood, MO; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

A memorial fund will be used to place a memorial in his name at Fogle Lake in Diagonal, Iowa.

Services were held at Watson-Armstrong Funeral Home in Diagonal, Iowa, on Tuesday, April 8, 2014, with Rev. Ed Shields officiating. Musical Selections included "Waltz Across Texas" and "Amazing Grace."

Casket bearers were Maria Dukes, Nakia Reha, Candy Ligotti, William Hays, Aaron Hays, Miranda Hays, Samantha Whitfield and Derrick Duff.

Military rites were by Williamson American Legion Post #719.

Burial was in the East Fairview Cemetery in Lenox, Iowa.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, April of 2014

Ringgold Obituaries maintained by Tony Mercer.
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