Vera Hays

Vera Hays, 89, left this world to begin her next journey on October 5th, 2017, at the Lourdes Ray & Kay Eckstein Hospice Center. She will be loved, missed, and always cherished by her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and all those who had the pleasure of having her in their lives.

She was born March 25, 1928 in Paducah, Kentucky to her parents Loyd and Lee Keeling. She grew up in a house full of siblings enjoying many adventures and misadventures along the way. On June 24, 1944, she married James Fred Hays, also known as "Gabby". They enjoyed camping, boating and vacationing. They were married for 59 years until his death in 2003.
Vera's life was full of riches in the forms of her family, employment, hobbies and interest. She worked at Sippi Products Lamp Factory in Paducah for years until it closed. She was then employed by the Florsheim Shoe Factory until her retirement. After retirement, she gained an extended family in the owners and workers at Wurth Farms, where she worked for more than 20 years. Over the years, she could be seen boxing tomatoes, helping customers in the greenhouse, potting various flowers and vegetables, or passing out tickets, cookies, and cider to families going on a hay ride to the pumpkin patch. She worked at the farm until she was 87. One of her greatest passions was cooking, whether for Sunday breakfast with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, baking her famous Coconut and Rum cakes to give out at Christmas, or stirring up a pot of her famous chili. When in the kitchen cooking or winding down after a long day, you could find her watching her beloved St. Louis Cardinals and cheering them on to a win. She loved feeding and watching her hummingbirds and gold finches.

Vera is survived by her son, Jimmy Hays and wife Gina of Kuttawa, daughter, Regina Wurth and husband Michael of Paducah, grandson, Keith Hays and wife Kim of Paducah, granddaughters, Kimberly Brandstetter of Ledbetter, Staci Baker and Kristi Wurth of Paducah, great-grandsons, Weston Brandstetter of Ledbetter, Austin Baker of Louisville, Zachary Hays of Paducah, and sister, Opal Garner of Paducah. Special thanks to Lourdes Hospice, especially her nurse, Debbie Briney, who was so loving and compassionate in her care.

She was preceded in death by her husband, James Fred Hays, her parents, Loyd and Lee Keeling, several brothers and sisters, and daughter-in-law, Vonda Hays, all of Paducah.

Milner and Orr Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Paducah is in charge of arrangements. Visitation will begin Sunday, October 8, 2017 from 5:00-8:00 pm. Funeral services will be held Monday October 9, 2017 at 1:00 pm at Milner & Orr Funeral Home with Dr. Willis Henson officiating. Burial will follow at Woodlawn Memorial Gardens.

Memorial donations may be made to the Lourdes Hospice, P. O. Box 7100, Paducah, KY 42002 or to American Cancer Society, 3140 Parisa Drive, Paducah, KY 42003.