Abraham E. Hay....Age 80

VISITATION: 6-8PM THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2015

SERVICE: 2:30PM FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015

(BOTH WILL BE HELD AT EDDY-BIRCHARD FUNERAL HOME - OSAWATOMIE, KS)

BURIAL: QUAKER CEMETERY, LANE, KANSAS
WITH MILITARY HONORS

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Abraham Ezra Hay age 80, of rural Lane, Kansas died Sunday, April 19, 2015 at the Kansas City VA Medical Center in Kansas City, Missouri.

Abraham was born December 28, 1934 in Mound Township, the younger of two sons born to Charlie Eldon Hay Sr. and Blanche Ruth (Eastwood) Hay.

He was a lifelong resident of Miami County growing up on the farm where he was born. He attended the first eight years of school at Clark Valley (now known as Pleasant Valley). He then attended Osawatomie High School and graduated with the class of 1952.

Before Abraham was twenty years old he had purchased the old Clark Valley School and made it his home for the rest of his life.

On January 6,1958 Abraham enlisted in the United States Army he served as a combat engineer in Company E 168th Engineer Battalion. He was honorably discharged from active duty at Fort Sheridan, Illinois on October 5, 1959 and then served in the Army Reserves until January 5, 1964.

Abraham married the love of his life Linda Joan Long on November 24, 1963 in the Spring Grove Friends Church in rural Osawatomie. The couple returned to the old school Abraham had turned into his house and became the parents of six children: Candy, Tamara, Tina, Bruce, Stacy and Melissa. This large family of eight enjoyed their life together in this five room house that Abraham and Linda turned into a home from his childhood school.

Abraham was a farmer from the age of eight years old, helping his father on the family farm and later with his own land. He raised cattle, pigs, and many different crops for over sixty years. He not only worked as a farmer but also ran his own salvage yard.

Abraham was a farmer by necessity, but he was a true fisherman by choice. There was nothing that he was doing that he would not drop to go fishing. He would fish everyday if he could, and he had a few close fishing buddies that he liked to enjoy this with. Abraham spent endless hours fishing and hunting with many friends. Cy Chilcote is a close dear friend that Abraham called his “adopted son” and they too spent numerous days together talking and fishing. Abraham had many friends and acquaintances almost everyone around knew Abraham Hay. He was a lover of auctions and could be seen attending many in the area. Abraham was known to have an open door for coffee and a good visit anytime, his coffee pot was never empty.

Abraham was an outspoken person who would speak his mind to anyone, anywhere, but was a friendly, joking person who loved to tease, and flirt with the ladies. He was a loving husband and father who was always fair to every member of his family, each child was an individual and he treated them as such. He enjoyed fish-fry’s and family get-togethers.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Survivors include his wife of over fifty-one years, Linda of the home, children: Candy Shafer of Centerville, KS, Tamara Ross of Paola, KS, Tina Tate (Patrick Clement) of Lane, KS, Bruce (Laurie) Hay of Osawatomie, KS, Stacy (Scott) Macom of Lane, KS, and Melissa Hay of Lane, KS, brother Charlie (Myrtle) Hay Jr. of Osawatomie, KS, sixteen grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, dear friends Cy Chilcote and Matthew Umbarger along with numerous other relatives and a lifetime of friends. Abraham will be missed by all who knew him.