Notes |
- From correspondence with Terrill Hayes:
Nettie migrated to El Dorado, KS with her parents in 1877 and was in Topeka in 1888.
Nettie Dexter Hayes was born at Plymouth, Penn., June 19, 1868, and
passed away at Spokane, Wash., August 11, 1955. She, with her parents,
migrated to ElDorado, Kansas in 1877, and in 1888, at Topeka, which was
then her home, she was united in marriage with Grant L. Hayes. He was
at that time a teacher but later entered the ministry of the Methodist
church and attended Southwestern college at Winfield. There, too, Mrs.
Hayes studied vocal music, and her lovely soprano voice was enjoyed
wherever she lived. She sang in the choir of her local church until she
was past 75.
In the spring of 1902 the family settled on a homestead three miles
west of Speermoore and Rev. Hayes served all of southeastern Beaver
county as a pioneer minister or circuit rider, preaching at such places
as Ivanhoe, Blue Grass, Cline, Logan, and Madison. He was also an
evangelistic singer and helped other ministers in revival meetings at
Gate, Englewood, Woodward and other places in Kansas and Oklahoma.
Later he organized in a rural school house what is now the Methodist
church at Follett, Texas.
Mrs. Hayes was a loyal helpmate, a truly pioneer mother and a quiet
leader in activities such as church and school. She and her husband
helped to organize the Glendale school district and both served on the
school board in the early days. They were also among the founders of
Fairview Methodist church; in fact, at one time Sunday services were
held in their home for several months. Many of the old-timers will also
remember Mrs. Hayes' parents, Mr. and Mrs. Virgil Dexter, who
homesteaded in the same community.
It was on the homestead that the Hayes' younger daughter Ruth was born
and later, 1916, when they moved to a farm near Laverne she attended
school there. Their son Virgil became a Methodist minister and his
first regular charge was at Gate. He also served at Knowles and
Beaver. He graduated from Southwestern college at Winfield, Kansas, and
is still preaching.
Their older daughter, Grace, who graduated from Northwestern State at
Alva, began her teaching career in Beaver county and continued this work
in the west, but only recently retired to her ranch home.
In 1921, Mr. and Mrs. Hayes, with their two daughters, moved to Idaho
and for some years lived at Hope on the shore of beautiful Lane Pend
Oreille. Mr. Hayes died in 1935. In 1940 Mrs. Hayes went to Spokane to
live in a new little modern home built by her son in law, but failing
health prevailed so for the past few years she has made her home with
her daughter Ruth in Spokane.
She was a modest, retiring woman, but courageous and a staunch
supporter of the right, as she saw it. She liked to read and to discuss
current problems. She had since her youth been a student of the Bible
and could quote many passages from memory. Working cross-word puzzles
and frequent references to the dictionary was a favorite pastime until
failing eyesight prevented. She was willing and ready to go to her
Maker but was ever thoughtful of others up to the last.
Final services were held at the Thornhill Valley Funeral home on
Sunday, August 14, and interment made at Hope, Idaho, beside the body of
her husband. The text of her own choosing was from Titus 3:5, "Not by
works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy,
he saved us."
Mrs. Hayes is survived by her three children, Rev. Virgil M. Hayes,
Brewster, Kansas; Mrs. Walter W. Jones (Grace), Route 3, Newport, Wash.;
and Mrs. Charles L. Riggen (Ruth), Green Acres, Wash.; also eight
grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
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