Wilma Mae Hays

Wilma Mae (Tice) Hays died May 2, 2024 at Vintage Park Assisted Living in Osawatomie, KS. She was the only child born to Walter C. and Daisy E. (Coker) Tice. She was born July 18, 1931, at Newman Memorial Hospital in Emporia, KS. She spent her early childhood in the Madison, KS area and Elk County north of Longton, KS.

At age 8, she moved with her parents to the Coker family farm west of Osawatomie and attended the Green Valley School and Osawatomie High School graduating with the class of 1949.

On June 4, 1950, she married her high school sweetheart, Robert J. Hays. They made their home west of Osawatomie and eventually moved to the family farm where she was raised. They became the parents of two daughters.

She worked alongside her husband as they operated a grade A dairy and small family farm until they sold their dairy herd in 1970. Wilma was a farmwife, housewife, mother, gardener and seamstress. She was gifted with crafts, selling decorated birthday, wedding and special event cakes for several years. She also taught tole painting and operated “The Paintin Place” for 20 years.

Wilma was a Sunday School teacher, VBS teacher, member of the Green Valley Baptist Church and the Green Valley Social Club.

Faith, Family, farm and community were where her heart and energy were spent.

She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

Wilma was preceded in death by her husband of sixty nine years, her parents, and twin infant granddaughters.

She is survived by her daughters; Vicki L Hays, Santa Barbara, California, Marilyn (Sam) Shipley, Osawatomie, Grandchildren; Jarred (Mindy) Shipley; Dustin (Amy) Shipley; Keira (Shipley) Welter; Great Grandchildren; Kyrsha, Salyn and Addison Welter, Cody, Miley, Kaley and Jaceyln Shipley. Brother-in-law, Charles (Jody) Hays, sister-in-laws, Linda (Sam) Carter; Margaret Hays, nieces and nephews.

Memorials are to Vintage Park Activity Fund or Green Valley Baptist Church and may be sent c/o Eddy-Birchard Funeral Home P.O. Box 430 Osawatomie, KS 66064.