Lewis Paul Hays

1941 - 2017

Lewis Paul Hays obituary, 1941-2017, Bellingham, VT

BORN

1941

DIED

2017

FUNERAL HOME

Moles Farewell Tributes & Crematory – Bayview Chapel

2465 Lakeway Dr

Bellingham, Washington

Lewis Hays Obituary

Lewis Paul Hays, age 75, of Bellingham, WA, died Tuesday, August 15, 2017. He leaves behind his wife of 50 years, Vivian (Collins) Hays; their children Jennifer Hays of Tromsø, Norway; Hilary (Hays) Engebretson and her husband Bryant Engebretson of Bellingham, WA; and Joshua Hays and his wife Jesse (Nickerson) Hays of Seattle, WA; Lew's sister Helen Norman of Riverside, CA and his brother Mahlon Pitt of Charlotte, NC; as well as four grandchildren and many, many friends in many different states and countries. Lewis was born on September 5, 1941 to Geneva Saathoff and Paul Lewis Hays. He attended Edison High School in Tulsa, OK and studied engineering at the University of Tulsa, where he was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity. In 1964, he began working for General Electric and moved to Schenectady, NY in 1965. In Schenectady, he met and fell in love with Vivian Collins of Swanton, VT at a local ski club. They were married on August 5, 1967. In the years that followed, Lew, Vivian, and their children lived in Schenectady, NY; Cinnaminson, NJ; Davenport, IA; and again in Schenectady. In 1981, Lew accepted a job with Valmont Industries and moved with the family to Omaha, NE. Lew worked for Valmont until his retirement in 1997. In 2001, Lew and Vivian moved to Bellingham to be near their daughter Hilary and their grandchildren. They lived in Bellingham together until his death. Lew enjoyed traveling, and in particular driving; he and Vivian often drove across the US to visit friends and family, and just to explore. He especially enjoyed going for long drives in his new Mazda Miata with a Washington Miata Club. In recent years, they drove to Clearwater Beach, FL where they spent the winters and connected with family and friends from the various places they had lived. In the summer of 2016, they rented an RV and traveled with their three teenage grandchildren on a wonderful tour of the National Parks of Arizona and Utah. They both also enjoyed traveling internationally. Two of Lew's years with Valmont were spent living in France with Vivian. They lived in Vichy, France in 1990, and in Saint-Germain-en-Laye in the Paris suburbs in 1996. After moving to Bellingham in 2001, they purchased a share in a European-based barge, Vertrouwen, and spent two weeks every summer touring the canals of Europe accompanied by friends and family. At the time of Lew's death, they were on their way to spend time on the barge near Strasbourg, France with two other couples, old friends from Schenectady who were also celebrating 50 years of marriage. Lew had a broad curiosity about life and the world and the universe. He was an avid photographer, an amateur astronomer, and a boat enthusiast. Lew was a strong Christian and was a member of Christ the King church in Bellingham. He was a cheerful, optimistic person with a wonderful and quirky sense of humor and a spirit of generosity. People responded easily to his outgoing, kind, and intelligent nature, and all of these qualities won him many friends. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him. Memorial donations can be made in memory of Lew to Christ the King Church - Bellingham, WA. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, August 31, 2:00 p.m. at Christ the King Church, Bellingham. To share your memories of Lew, please visit molesfarewelltributes.com.

Published by Bellingham Herald on Aug. 27, 2017.
34465541-95D0-45B0-BEEB-B9E0361A315A

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Memories and Condolences
for Lewis Hays

Not sure what to say?





2 Entries

Dear Vivian and family,
So sorry to read about Lew's death. Please know that I am thinking of you and praying that God will help you through this sad time. Sending love and prayers,
Sue McBride Crowley
South Hero, Vt.

Susan Crowley

September 2, 2017

Beautiful tribute to Lew, our thoughts and prayers are with you all,
From the Schmid Family, Ed, Elena, Ailia and Milo

August 29, 2017

Showing 1 - 2 of 2 results

Make a Donation
in Lewis Hays's name

Memorial Events
for Lewis Hays

Aug

31

Memorial service

2:00 p.m.

Christ the King Church

Bellingham, WA

Funeral services provided by:

Moles Farewell Tributes & Crematory – Bayview Chapel

2465 Lakeway Dr, Bellingham, WA 98229

How to support Lewis's loved ones
Commemorate a cherished Veteran with a special tribute of Taps at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.

The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.

Read more
Attending a Funeral: What to Know

You have funeral questions, we have answers.

Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?

What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?

Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?

We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.

Read more
Resources to help you cope with loss
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Estate Settlement Guide

If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.

Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast

Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.

Read more
The Five Stages of Grief

They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.

Read more
Ways to honor Lewis Hays's life and legacy
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Obituary Templates

These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.

Read more
Obituary Examples

You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.

Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?

Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.

Read more