Georgia Hays

Georgia Hays, 88, of Creston, passed away Tuesday, July 20, 2021, at Vintage Park Apartments in Lenox. A Celebration of Life service will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 27, 2021, at Powers Funeral Home, 601 New York Ave. in Creston. Shari Stamps and Kyle Bredesky, niece and great-nephew of Georgia, will officiate.

Services will be livestreamed on Powers Funeral Home link under her obituary. Burial will be in Graceland Cemetery. Open visitation will be 2 to 7 p.m. Monday, with family present from 5 to 7 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be directed to St. Jude’s Hospital, a bench in her name and Parkinson’s Foundation. Online condolences can be left at www.powersfh.com.

Georgia Marlene (Hancock) Hays, daughter of Harold Gettis Hancock and Mary Floy (VanLoon) Hancock was born April 4, 1933, in a farmhouse near Chariton. Georgia’s father died at a young age due to a mining accident. The family lived with their grandmother until their mother married William Weeda of Bedford. The family then moved to Bedford.

In 1942, the family moved to a farm near Lenox. Georgia attended country schools in Bedford and Lenox during her grade school years but attended high school in Clearfield, graduating in 1951.

On Dec. 24, 1952, Georgia married Orval Franklin Hays in Creston.

Georgia and Orval moved to San Antonio, Texas, so Orval could start his career with the military. Orval was sent to Korea in 1953 and Georgia moved back to Iowa. When Orval returned from Korea, they settled on a farm south of Lenox. Three sons were born from this union: James Franklin in 1955, John William in 1957, and Gary Lee in 1960. Georgia and Orval later divorced.

Georgia was employed at the Creston hospital in the kitchen before she continued her education at Southwestern Community College, earning an LPN degree in 1974. She then returned to work at Creston hospital as a nurse.

Georgia met a special friend Russell Wambold, and together they created a lot of memories, until his death. Georgia retired as a nurse in 1995 after working over 20 years at the hospital.

In retirement, Georgia worked part time in homecare. She enjoyed many hobbies. Georgia was a great mother and a fantastic grandmother; she loved her family dearly, and she really enjoyed her stay at Vintage Park in Lenox. She was a member of the Red Hats Ladies, Southside Boosters Kitchen Band and had been very active with the YMCA 55 Plus Group.

Left to cherish her memory are sons: Jim Hays of Fulton, Illinois; John (wife Lori) Hays of Creston, Gary (wife Kathy) Hays of Afton; brother Harold Hancock (friend Connie) of Bedford; sister Darlene Stamps of Diagonal; seven grandchildren: Aaron, William (husband Dane), Miranda, Samantha, Candy (husband Carlo), Maria (husband Brad) and Nakia (friend Jared); 12 great-grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; many family members and friends.

Georgia was preceded in death by her parents; stepfather, William Weeda; sister-in-law, Donna Hancock; brother, Delbert Weeda; nephew, Denny Hancock, daughter-in-law, Ursula Hays and brother-in-law, Curtiss Stamps.