James C. Hay

James C. Hay James C. Hay was born in Temple, Texas on April 17, 1928 to William C. and Eulalia Mixson Hay. He departed this earth on March 23, 2010 after a struggle with cancer. James is survived by his wife of 60 years, Betty Sloan Hay, and his two sons, James W. Hay of Champaign, Illinois, and Steve Hay and wife Patti of Austin, Texas; sister-in-law Deloris Schroeder Sloan of Richmond, as well as other relatives including Kent and Helen Comer and Oswin and Marilyn Chrisman, all of Dallas, and several nephews and nieces. Preceding him in death were his parents, brother-in-law Bill Sloan, and father-in-law and mother-in-law, W.J. and Lois Allen Sloan. James grew up in Brenham, Texas. He attended Brenham High School, where he met the former Betty Sloan. They were married on Thanksgiving Day in 1949. A graduate of Texas A&M University, he was a proud member of the Corps of Cadets and Texas Aggie Band. Upon graduation, his new lieutenant's commission resulted in him being called to active duty with the Air Force during the Korean War. He subsequently spent 30 years of reserve and active duty in the Air Force, which included awards for outstanding leadership and dedicated service as commander of the 924th Combat Support Squadron from 1967 to 1974 at Ellington Air Force Base in Houston, Texas. He ended his military career at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi, where he retired as a Colonel in 1980. James' work career was with Masury Paint Company as a salesman and sales manager in Houston, Texas, and later with the Masury Division of Valspar Corporation as general manager in Baltimore, Maryland. James was a generous man, a collector of friends, who found ways of living life to the fullest. He believed in volunteerism and stayed involved with the life he loved. Organizations he became active with included Masonry at all levels. He was a life member of Brenham Masonic Lodge, Austin's York Rite, Scottish Rite, Ben Hur Shrine bodies, and Royal Order of Jesters. He also served as president of the 1,300 member Houston chapter of the Air Force Association, and several offices of the Reserve Officer's Association. James is a Christian and was a lifelong Baptist. He was married in the First Baptist Church of Brenham, Texas. He was an active member of the University Baptist Church in Baltimore, Maryland and, until his death, an active member and usher at Hyde Park Baptist Church in Austin, Texas. James will be greatly missed by his family and friends, with special appreciation to this trusted friend and fellow Aggie, Charles Mast. We have now entrusted James to God's care, with gratitude for his life here on this earth. Funeral services for James C. Hay will be held Friday, March 26, 2010 at 11:00 a.m., at Memorial Oaks Chapel. A memorial service will be held at Hyde Park Baptist Church in Austin, Texas on March 27, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. Serving as pallbearers are Charles Mast, Pierre Roberts, Fred Bredthauer, Walter Holle, Neil Moore, Richard O'Grady, John Reesing, and Joe Miles. Honorary pallbearers are members of the Shrine Jester Club of Austin, Joe Seale, Troy Martin, Bob Blaylock, and the 1949 Aggie Band members. Memorials may be directed to The Food Pantry, Hyde Park Baptist Church, 3901 Speedway, Austin, Texas 78751. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Memorial Oaks Chapel, 1306 W. Main, Brenham, (979) 836-4564. To view the obituary online or to post a tribute to the family, visit www.memorialoakschapel.com.