Eleanor F. Hays

Funeral Services for Eleanor F. Hays will be conducted on Tuesday, July 16, 2013 at 10:30 a.m. from the Edison Christian Church in Edison, Nebraska with Pastor Kirk Einspahr officiating. Interment will be in the Oxford Cemetery.

Eleanor Florence Hays, 92 years of age, of Oxford, passed away on Saturday, July 13, 2013 at Holdrege Memorial Homes. Eleanor was born September 15, 1920 in Olney Springs, Colorado, the eldest of three daughters to Arthur M. and Jessie Eleanor (Watson) Hyde. Eleanor attended Edison High School and graduated with the class of 1937 as Salutatorian.

In the Fall of 1937, Eleanor attended Kearney State College and received her teaching certificate. Eleanor taught at District #7, four miles north of Edison for two years. She taught all eight grades, and had 17 students. Eleanor received $40 a month to teach her first year and $45 a month her second year.

In June 1940, she was united in marriage to Leonard James Hays in Seward, Nebraska. Leonard and Eleanor made their home northwest of Oxford and to this union three children were born: Janice, Beverly and Robert.

Eleanor enjoyed spending time with her family. She enjoyed playing the piano, up until she was 89 years old.

Eleanor was a member of the Edison Christian Church for close to 80 years. She was active in her church and lived at home until a fall in May of 2009.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Leonard; sisters: Dorothy Hays and her husband, Glenn, and Phyllis Niemeier; son-in-law, Walter Anderson; and brother-in-law, Ivan Hays, in infancy.

Eleanor is survived by her son, Robert Hays and his wife, Marilyn of Hildreth, Nebraska; daughters: Janice Anderson of Oxford, Nebraska and Beverly Lewis and her husband, Marlen of Orleans, Nebraska; 7 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; 3 step grandchildren; 5 step great-grandchildren; brother-in-law, Robert Niemeier of Cambridge; along with nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held on Monday, July 15, 2013 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Mitchell-Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Oxford.

A memorial has been established in Eleanor's name and will be designated at a later date.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Mitchell-Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Oxford is in charge of arrangements.