Lenelle Hays

Lenelle Hanna Hays, 89, of Elizabethtown, passed away peacefully Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025.

Lenelle was a lifelong resident of Hardin County born in Glendale. She graduated salutatorian from Glendale High School. She worked for JMF Hays Realty Co. for many years and retired from the accounting department of The News-Enterprise. She was an active member of First Christian Church of Elizabethtown and participated in several community organizations.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Leroy and Elizabeth Walker Hanna; her husband of 48 years, Joe Hays; her daughter, Lisa Hays Charness, and her son-in law, Michael Charness; her brother and sister-in-law, Robert and Christa Hanna and a brother-law, J.R. Belt II.

Lenelle is survived by her son, Lee Hays, and his wife, Carol of Weldon Springs, Missouri; two grandchildren, Lauren (Brendan) Orf and Lindsey Hays; two great-grandchildren, Maverick and Margaux; two stepgrandchildren, Dana Russell and Ramona Jackson; a sister, Patty (Terry) Paris of Elizabethtown; sister-in-law, Betsy Hays Settles of Louisville; and several nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to thank her caregivers at Peridot, Signature Healthcare, Cornerstone Caregiving Agency of Bowling Green and Hosparus Health of Central Kentucky.

Services are at noon Tuesday, Nov. 4, at Brown Funeral Home in Elizabethtown. Burial will follow in the Glendale Christian Church Cemetery.

Visitation is from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday and continues at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Christian Church of Elizabethtown, the Joe and Lenelle Spirit Fund at the Central Kentucky Community Foundation or the Hardin County Animal Shelter.