Margaretta M. Hays
September 9, 2008

Margaretta Mays Hays, one of four children of Lena P. (Watts) and John M. Brown, was born on July 5, 1922 on a farm near Elsberry, Missouri. She attended rural school and then attended school at Elsberry, graduating from Elsberry High School in 1939. Following high school, Margaretta earned her teaching certificate. She taught in three different rural schools near Elsberry and in the summer months attended college in Kirksville, Missouri where she received her teacher's training. In the spring of 1943, Brice Hays, President of the Strahan School Board, went to Kirksville to interview prospective teachers. Among them was his future daughter-in-law, Margaretta Brown, to whom he offered a teaching contract for the 1943-1944 school year.
Margaretta and William Brice "Bill" Hays were married on February 11, 1944 by Rev. Lester Hall at the United Methodist Parsonage in Malvern, Iowa. They made their home on the Fred Davis farm, south of Malvern, which Bill's father, Brice Hays, had just purchased. Their marriage was blessed with four children, Sharon Kay, John Brice, Sandra Lou and Robert William.
Margaretta was active in her church and community. She was a member of the Malvern United Methodist Church, the United Methodist Women and had served on the Methodist Church Administration Board. In 1960, Margaretta was elected to the newly organized Malvern Community School District Board of Directors, serving for ten years, the last two as president.
Margaretta helped Bill with field work and harvest. She raised large vegetable gardens, canned fruits from the orchard, and took care of the chickens. Margaretta had brought a mint plant from her home in Missouri and raised fresh mint for her own recipe of "true southern" mint tea. She enjoyed collecting antique dishes and crystal and cranberry glassware. She is remembered by many as a fantastic bookkeeper who was among the first to develop cash flow statements as a management tool. Margaretta cherished her husband, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Margaretta passed away on September 9, 2008, at the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska, at the age of 86 years, 2 months, and 4 days. She was preceded in death by her parents; infant daughter Sharon Kay Hays; son-in-law Chester Smith; brothers, Marvin Brown and wife Peggy and Ralph Brown and wife Florence; and sister Lucile Brown Moore.
Margaretta is survived by her husband of 64 years, Bill Hays of Malvern; children, John Hays and wife Janice of Lakewood, WA, Sandra Smith of Saint Paris, OH, and Robert Hays and wife Betty of Malvern; seven grandchildren, fifteen great grandchildren; other relatives and friends.

Interment was in the Malvern Cemetery.

Memorials may be directed to the Malvern United Methodist Church, Malvern, Iowa.

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