

Born June 1, 1946 in Moline to Clyde Edward and Betty Jane (Nolan) Hay, he married Linda Susanne Downing on March 18, 1972 in Port Byron. She survives.
Also surviving are one son, Douglas M. (Mary) Hay of Pekin; one daughter, Elizabeth M. Hay of Peoria; four grandchildren, Dillon Howser, Lauryn Howser, Evan Hay and Madison Hay; one sister, Sharon Lynch of Los Angeles, California; and one brother, Stephen Hay of Tampa, Florida. He also leaves his mother-in-law, Glenna Downing of Pekin.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
A 1965 graduate of Farmington High School, Mike then attended Spoon River College and graduated in 1971 from Western Illinois University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics.
Mike was a mathematics teacher at Pekin Community High School District 303 from 1972 until his retirement in May 2005. He taught all of the various math classes offered at PCHS, including Advanced Placement Calculus and Advanced Placement Programming.
Mike was a member of the Tazewell County Retired Teachers and a past president of the teacher’s union. He was very proud to have been selected as an honorary member of the National Honor Society Chapter at PCHS by its student members.
Mike had also enjoyed working at 14th Street Hardware for nearly 14 years.
A few of Mike’s hobbies and interests included Astronomy and tropical fish. He was a 40 year member of the Peoria Astronomical Society, having served as president 11 times. He also was a former member of the Tri-County Tropical Fish Society and, at one time, maintained thirteen tanks in addition to two in his classroom. He also enjoyed spending time woodcarving at the Miller Center, participating in the Caterpillar Stamp Club and the Tri-county Bonsai Group.
Mike was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Pekin.
His memorial Mass will be 10 a.m. Monday, July 18, 2016 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Pekin. Father Michael Andrejek will officiate. Visitation will be from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin. Inurnment will follow the memorial Mass in Prairie Haven Cemetery in Pekin.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Peoria Astronomical Society, P.O. Box 10111, Peoria, IL 61612-0111 or to OSF Hospice, 2265 West Altorfer Drive, Peoria, IL 61615.
To express condolences online, visit www.preston-hanley.com
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