Ruth E. Hayes

Ruth E. Hayes, the daughter of Myrtle Ruth (Southards) and Fred Wilmot, was born September 18, 1937 at Lebanon, Kansas. She departed this life on Thursday, February 17, 2022 at the Mary Lanning Hospital in Hastings, Nebraska.

Ruth grew up on the Smith County, Kansas and graduated from the Lebanon High School. She completed her formal education with a teaching degree from Kearney State Teachers College. She was united in marriage with James Hayes on August 7, 1956 at the Methodist Church in Lebanon. This union was blessed with three children, Rachelle, Mike and Brian. Ruth’s teaching career included a number of schools including Inavale, Paxton and Pauline, Nebraska. Ruth and Jim lived in a number of communities across the state before settling in Hastings to make their home in 1962.

As a young girl, Ruth developed a talent to whistle. Through the years she entertained at numerous events and went on the compete nationally where she won several awards. In her leisure time Ruth enjoyed attending garage sales, auction, working with flowers and acrylic painting. She possessed a caring heart and was happiest when she was serving others.

Preceding her in death were her parents, Fred and Myrtle Wilmot; a brother, Ivan and a grandson, Justin Heitman.

Left to treasure her memory are her husband, James Hayes of Hastings, Nebraska; daughter, Rachelle Schroeder and husband, Robert of Tabor, Iowa; sons, Mike Hayes and wife, Kim of Farmland, Missouri and Brian Hayes and friend, Julie Barrientez of Doniphan, Nebraska; 6 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. Also surviving are two brothers, Mason Wilmot of Hastings, Nebraska and Eldon Wilmot of Tennessee; sisters, Barb McCartney of Nelson, Nebraska and Beth Niles and husband, Bud, of Hampton, Nebraska; other relatives and friends.

Services were Tuesday, 10:30 am, February 22, 2022 at the Williams Funeral Home in Red Cloud with Pastor Kathy Uldrich officiating,
Interment was at the Red Cloud Cemetery.

Williams Funeral Home
241 West 4th Avenue
Red Cloud, Nebraska  68970

Phone 402-746-2500
williamsfuneralhomes@yahoo.com

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