Myrtle Fay Hayes

LONGVIEW — Services for Myrtle Fay Hayes, 93, of Hallsville, will be 10 a.m. Saturday, October 19, 2013, at the chapel of Welch Funeral Home, 4619 Judson Road, with the Rev. Neal Thornburgh and the Rev. Danny Warbington officiating. Burial will follow in Grace Hill Cemetery. Mrs. Hayes passed away Wednesday, October 16, 2013, in a local nursing facility.
On May 31, 1920, Myrtle Fay was born to Floyd and Mattie Meador. Her father worked in the oil field which brought them to settle in the New London area where Myrtle Fay and her siblings attended school. In March 1936, Myrtle Fay participated in a high school UIL typing contest in Overton that proved to be providential.
That afternoon at 3:22 p.m., the newly built high school exploded, known throughout the world as the New London school explosion. In 1937, Myrtle Fay graduated from the New London school as the valedictorian. Afterwards, she attended Bish Mathis Business Institute, BMI.
Myrtle Fay worked for the Longview Lumber Company on Cotton Street in Longview. Shortly, a friend introduced her to Paul Hayes whom she married May 18, 1941. Paul and Myrtle Fay bought a Gulf service station, where he sold gasoline and fishing/hunting supplies, serviced autos and rented utility trailers and many other items including Longview's first custom flocked Christmas trees.
The Boy Scouts, Campfire Girls, gardens, 4-H Club, cattle, school, sports, church, Optimist Club, and myriad other activities involved the whole family. The Gulf service station evolved into Hayes RV Center, renting and selling camping trailers for family fun.
Gardening, cattle, fruit trees, traveling and devoted church activities kept them busy as a 'retired' couple, as well as keeping up with the grandchildren. Myrtle Fay was known for her passion for flowers and her Lord. She was a member of Mulberry Springs Baptist Church. She taught Sunday school for many years. Proverbs 16:9 depicted the life that they lived together: "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps."
Paul went home to be with the Lord in 2002. Myrtle Fay continued to live in her Hallsville country home until March 2010. After experiencing a fall that required rehabilitation, Myrtle Fay continued to touch lives in her assisted living home. She was 93 in May and is much loved by her family and so many!
Myrtle Fay was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Paul; and son, Gene.
Myrtle Fay is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, David and Sue Hayes; her daughter and son-in-law, Linda and Robert Miller; grandchildren, Kristy Musser, Kevin Horne, Kim McBride, Sarah Garette and Robert Miller Jr.; numerous great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren and great-great-great-grandchildren; and a brother, Ben Meador and wife, Bobbie.
The family will receive friends 5-7 p.m. today, October 18, 2013, at Welch Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to Heart'sWay Hospice, P.O. Box 5608, Longview TX 75608.
The memorial guestbook may be signed at www.welchfuneral.com.