Emily June Hays

Emily June Hays (Van Horne), who lived her life with kindness toward others and devotion to her family and friends, died September 12, 2014, in Springfield, Missouri, following a brief battle with cancer. Born to William Raymond Van Horne and Alta Olene Wood on June 3, 1927, in Linneus, Missouri, June (as she was known by most of her family and friends) passed away at the home of her youngest daughter. June was preceded in death by her husband James Alvin Hays (Jim), who passed away on August 25, 2000. June and Jim met at a Chillicothe, Missouri, skating rink and married on July 11, 1946, in Chillicothe, Missouri. After living at a few locations in northern Missouri (including Chillicothe, Dawn, and Blue Mound) and Garden City, Kansas, June and her family moved to Long Lane, Missouri in 1956. June lived her life with grace and humility. She spent her life thinking of others, evidenced by how she cared for her family, including her husband and her nine children and other friends. In addition to her roles as wife and mother, June was active with St. William Catholic Church in Buffalo (one of the first members of the congregation). With her husband, Jim, she also volunteered with local veterans’ organizations, including the Buffalo chapter of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV). She was a basketball player at Meadville High School in Meadville, Missouri, at a time when not many women participated in organized sports, and served as an inspiration to her granddaughters. After high school and prior to meeting her husband, she lived in Chillicothe, Missouri, working at a “Five and Dime” store. In a busy household with nine children, she often found time to make special memories for her children, including taking walks on the farm, making homemade ice cream and baking cinnamon rolls on cold winter days. She was an avid reader and had a keen interest in current events. During her lifetime, she lived through the Great Depression, World War II, the Moon Landing, 9-11 and many other major national and international events. Growing up during the Great Depression, few people, including her own family, had radios. But she clearly remembered one of her neighboring friends, whose family did have a radio coming over after hearing Orson Welles’ War of the Worlds broadcast in 1938. Her friend sat on the bed next to June and made the whole bed shake as she told her the frightening news of the broadcast. The Moon Landing in 1969 had significant impact on her as something that she thought she’d never see in her lifetime. She is survived by her children and their families, including William Raymond Hays of Kearney, Nebraska; James Alvin Hays of Buffalo, Missouri; Theresa Marie Boley of Bradenton, Florida; Cecilia Annette McDaniel of Shawnee Mission, Kansas; Thomas Alton Hays of Long Lane; Catherine Lynn Mueller of Corinth, Texas; Carolyn Ann Thomas of O’Fallon, Missouri; John Michael Hays of Bartlesville, Oklahoma; and Susan Elizabeth Taylor of Springfield, Missouri. She is also survived by 17 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. Funeral Mass will be 9:00 a.m. Thursday September 18, 2014 in the St. William Catholic Church in Buffalo with Father David Miller officiating. Casketbearers were Greg Hays, Ian Thomas, Dylan Thomas, Nathan Taylor, Jonathan Taylor, Trystan Harrell, and David Mueller. Music was by Brenda Paul. Burial will follow in the Mo Veterans Cemetery in Springfield. Under the direction of the Montgomery-Viets Funeral Home of Buffalo. Visitation will be from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday September 17, 2014 in the Chapel. Memorial donations may be made to Hospice Compassus, 1465 E. Primrose, Springfield, MO 65804.

Emily June Hays

June 3, 1927 - September 12, 2014