Martha Hays

Martha Helen Hill Hays of Des Moines passed away at Broadlawns Hospital on November 5th, the morning of her 89th birthday, after a brief illness.

Martha was the second of six children born to Darsie Dean Hill and Ella Margaret Fisher Hill in Batavia, Iowa. She graduated from Batavia High School in 1945 and went on to attend Parsons College in Fairfield where she met Lorin Nelson Hays III. They were married on June 29, 1947 in Batavia and moved to Knoxville, Iowa where his family resided. The couple had two children, Larry and Michele, before they separated and later divorced.

Martha lived and worked in Des Moines for most of her life and had been a resident of the Rehabilitation Center of Des Moines in recent years. Prior to that, she resided at Luther Park apartments.

She is survived by her son Lorin “Larry" Nelson Hays IV (Jewell) of Cedar Falls, her daughter Martha Michele Hays Rose (John) of Mitchelville, three grandchildren, six great grandchildren, her sisters Marilyn Aydelette (Tom) of Southern Pines, SC, and Kathryn “Kay” Kisling (Dwight) of Montrose, CO, her brother David (Joed) of Iturbe, Guaira, Paraguay, South America, and scores of nephews and nieces.

Martha was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Dorothy McKenna (John), and her brother Carlos.

Along with her faith, family was very important to her. Martha was fond of reminiscing about growing up in Batavia where she played basketball and ping pong with her brothers and sisters and gardened. The Iowa State Fair was one of her favorite events, and she considered herself a Kansas City Royals baseball fan. She was witty and insightful and well liked by those who knew her. She will be missed.

Cremation was handled by Hamilton’s Funeral Home of Des Moines, and a celebration of life service will be conducted at a later date.

Condolences may be expressed at:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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