Janet Elizabeth Hayes

Janet was born in Tekamah, Nebraska on October 26, 1927 to Vic and Kathryn Goodman, their only child. Vic was a farmer and they lived on several farms, growing corn and raising pigs. One of the farms was known as the Fox Farm, where they raised foxes for the pelts. Vic had 4 brothers who lived in the area so Janet got to see her cousins; LeeRoy, Dick, Ron, Bob, Bill, Shirley, and Donna growing up. Being the oldest cousin she enjoyed getting to play with them and told of how she would put little Bobby into her baby buggy and push him around. She went to Happy Hollow, a one room school house in Craig, where she met a life long friend Donna Mock. She walked a few miles to school which often went up hill both ways especially in the snow. On one occasion she did not make it home from school and Vic went out to find her freezing in the snow. After going to Craig High School, Janet left her parents on the farm and moved to the big city, where she rented a room, so that she could attend Tekamah School for her junior and senior years. She married after high school and moved to Sacramento in 1948 after her Uncle Larry said he could get her husband construction work. She would later marry another construction worker and have a son. Eventually her Mom, Dad, Grandmother Mathews and Aunt Pat also moved to Sacramento. Her mom and grandma were excellent bakers and she continued the tradition, making bread, cookies, cinnamon rolls and Pepsi cake whenever asked. She worked for the California State Treasurer's Office, Forestry, and EDD retiring after 33 years in 1987. She enjoyed traveling which included a three week bus tour through China when she bought home more than memories, including a cough due to the pollution. On another trip she visited Holland and finally met her pen pal that she had been writing to since high school. Janet often returned to Nebraska to attend school reunions and visit family and friends, and would comment how she loved looking out over the farm land while driving through the country. However, she enjoyed the California weather even more and didn't miss those cold winters. Janet began square dancing in 1976 and helped out by being Secretary, Treasurer, President and Friendship Lady in several clubs including the Mavericks, Sacramento Singles, Pathfinders, Whirl-a-Ways, and Jet Setters. She enjoyed square, round, ballroom, and country swing dancing, where she also made many long time friends. She would take her motorhome to weekend dances and camp at the venue. She enjoyed watching her son play sports and would bring chocolate chip cookies to the softball games. She enjoyed hosting a monthly Friday night Mexican Train Domino party, as well as, just having friends over to talk over a cup of coffee. Her friends say she was loved by so many people. She will be missed more than she will ever know.

Arrangements under the direction of Mount Vernon Memorial Park and Mortuary, Fair Oaks, CA.