A resident of Douglas County over 33 years Mary R. Hayes, daughter of Noah and Dellavine (Howard) Strong, was born on Aug. 19, 1924, in Ozark County, Mo., and passed away on May 4, 2008, with her family by her side in Heart of the Ozarks Healthcare, Ava, Mo., at the age of 83 years, 8 months and 15 days.
Mary was a resident of Douglas County, Mo., for over 33 years.
She was a homemaker and housewife. On Dec. 19, 1944, Mary and George T. Hayes were united in marriage in Okema, Okla. She was a Christian and of the Pentecost faith.
She was preceded in death by her parents, one sister, Barbara Elaine, a son-in-law, Wesley Willis, two brothers, James and Harley Strong, three stepbrothers and one stepsister.
She is survived by her husband, George, of the home in Ava; seven children, Mary Jane Swisher, Fairfax, Mo., Barbara Smith and husband, Bob, Ava, Mo., Geraldine Huskey and husband, B.Y., Ava, Mo., Judy Huskey and husband, Roger, Barry, Texas, Buddy Hayes and wife, Sherry, Ava, Mo., Jessie Willis, Ava, Mo., and Danny Belt and wife, Cathy, Manford, Okla.; 13 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; four brothers, Johnnie Strong, Gainesville, Mo., Lester Strong, Seymour, Mo., Chester Strong, Gainesville, Mo., and Arlie Strong, Batesville, Ark.; one stepbrother, Eldon Neely, Gainesville, Mo.; three stepsisters, Dorothy Strong, Dean Steel and Darlene Engles, all of Oklahoma; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Services for Mary were held Wednesday, May 7, at 2 p.m. at Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava, with the Rev. Arlie Strong officiating. Interment followed in the Loftis Cemetery, Gainesville. Visitation was Tuesday from 6 to 7 p.m. in the funeral home.
Online condolences may be made to www.clinkingbeardfuneral home.com.
