Jimmy Ray Hays

Jimmy Ray Hays went to be with Jesus and his beloved wife, Shirley on May 9, 2025. He died peacefully surrounded by family in his room at the Meadows in Gatesville, Texas. Shortly before his passing that day, he told his family members he was going to dinner with Shirley that night which comforted his family greatly knowing he was at peace and looking forward to being reunited with her.

Jimmy was kind, brilliant, honest, hardworking, and a true man of God. Two things he talked about all the time until he passed were Jesus and Shirley. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2009. He managed to function remarkably well for many years still recognizing family and recounting memories of family life and his years as a pioneer in the computer industry. He never forgot Shirley, even after she passed in 2022. He always reminded his family and friends to talk to Jesus. He loved singing Amazing Grace and Jesus Loves Me for anyone who visited.

Jimmy was a decorated staff sergeant in the United States Air Force during the Korean War. When he completed his service, he opened a real estate company that was very successful. He sold that business and went to work for Univac in the early years of the computer industry. He got the job because he scored off the charts on the company’s intelligence test. He worked for Univac for 20 years first as a troubleshooting engineer, then a systems analyst, a branch manager, and finally Regional Manager for the southwest US. While working at Univac, he attended college at night to study physics and computer science. He quickly rose in the company due to his honesty, character, and high IQ. He was the Southwest regional manager for Univac, which including being in charge of Univac’s computers and engineers at NASA during the Apollo lunar landings. He spent many days at Mission Control in Houston during the moon missions. His team helped bring the Apollo 13 astronauts home. He later went on to run his own computer services company, Southwest Information Management Systems for about 15 years before going back to Univac/Unisys for another five years.

He then moved to the hill country of Texas where he sold real estate for 10 years before retiring. He loved searching for and finding beautiful ranches for his customers, covering a lot of miles in his four wheel drive vehicles and on foot traipsing through the countryside. He spent his last years in Killeen, Copperas Cove, and Gatesville where the sunsets are amazing and the hills and mesas are gorgeous. He has missed Shirley desperately for the last two and a half years. His family will love him forever. We are comforted knowing that he is reunited with Mom and with Jesus.

Jimmy was predeceased by his wife, Shirley Ann Mathys Hays, his mother Roxie Bell Stephens King, father Robert Hays, brother Robert Hays, sisters Oleta Broughton, Mary Lewis, Josephine Scarborough, Katherine Hays, Gloria Davis, Rosaline Ballard, and twin brothers who died at birth. He is survived by his sister Billie Tuttle, daughters Sharol Peterson and husband Todd, Debbie Phillips and husband Wes, and Amber Stivers and husband Todd, grandchildren Melannie Pitman, Christopher Schober, Jett Peterson, Forrest Phillips, Claire Phillips, Skyler Phillips, Ted Taylor, Savannah Taylor, Jimmy Taylor, Vaun Stivers, McKayla Stivers, Caleb Stivers, John Samuel Stivers, Emerson Guest, and great grandchildren Trinity and Christyl Pitman, Trenten and Ashton Taylor, and Emmett Stivers. He is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews who he loved dearly.

Services will be held at First Baptist Church of Copperas Cove, Texas on May 27 at 10 am. Viewing will be held immediately prior to the service starting at 9 am. A committal ceremony will be held at 1 pm at the Central Texas Veteran’s Cemetery in Killeen.