Eleanor Louise Hays

1931 - 2017

Eleanor Louise (Marty) Hays

May 23, 1931 - November 4, 2017

Eleanor Louise (Marty) Hays passed away quietly on November 4, 2017. Marty was born May 23, 1931 in Harrow, Ontario, Canada and raised by her parents, Mildred and Kenneth Martin. In 1943, Marty moved to Arizona and started Scottsdale High School at the young age of 12. She exceled in school; was her class valedictorian, and started college at Arizona State University at the age of 16.

On March 5, 1951, Marty married Donald (Don) G. Hays, a fighter pilot, and started a family. In 1960, she and Don moved the family to Fullerton, California and raised their children.

While transporting, cheering on, and putting up with all the demanding hours her children's extra-curricular activities took, Marty flourished in her own on-going education as well as a career teaching business education at Sunny Hills High School. She later worked as a regional supervisor of business education for the State of California and was a mentor to many future teachers.

By 1988, we thought retirement was well deserved; however, that didn't sit well for Marty as she loved to teach. She became an adult education teacher as well as a consultant for Glencoe/McGraw-Hill publishing, and an author of her own text books.

Ultimately, retirement happened again and Marty enthusiastically celebrated family, friends, tennis and cards. She began playing tennis at age 69 and played daily until she was 85. Traveling the world was another passion of Marty's. She and Don visited many countries as well as many wonderful places in the US. One such trip, gave them the opportunity of owning a condo in Poipu, Kauai; which was a common vacation spot for them in addition to inviting family to share the Kauai experience. River cruises became her new mode of travel and she ventured down many rivers and visited many cities while enjoying time with her friends.

Marty is survived by her children: John Hays, Vicki Hays, Scott Hays and Amy Cromwell, along with her five grandchildren: Katherine Hays, Trevor Rich, Danica Finnegan, David Hays and Jordan Smith-Hays. She was preceded in death by her husband, Don and her daughter, Kathleen Louise.

A Celebration of Life will be on Saturday, January 13, 2018, at The Lodge, Four Seasons Community, Palm Springs, CA from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.