Eleanor Lee Hays

Born in Fredericksburg, VA on July 11,1931 to Alto Bacon Persons and Eleanor Gertrude Purks, she attended school in Quantico, Dumfries, and Occoqan VA before going to Westhampton College of the University of Richmond, She was the first woman president of the Baptist Student Union and a Phi Beta Kappa graduate. While there she met Robert Warren Hays and they were married August 2, 1952.

The couple lived in Louisville, KY, Baltimore and Mardela Springs, MD, Philadelphia, PA, Quantico, Virginia Beach, VA, Forrestville, MD, Hayama, Japan, Arlington, VA, San Pedro and Camarillo, CA, before moving to San Angelo, TX in October 2005.

Survivors besides her husband for 59 years include their son, Robert London Hays, Dayton, OH, who married Barbara Jean Lawrence and they have three children- Steven Warren Hays, Carol Ann Hays, and James Thomas Hays. Their daughter, Linda Lee Hays, Quitaque TX, married Randell Brice Stark and they have two daughters- Amy Michelle Stark and Amber Hays Stark. Amy married Andrew Mashburn and they have a son, Zachary Andrew Mashburn. Other survivors include a sister, Barbara Persons Curran, of Norway NY, several nieces and one nephew.

Eleanor Lee edited or wrote for five different publications and volunteered at four different libraries including one in Thailand. She volunteered for many charitable and civic organizations and was always active in every church they attended. One of the things she most enjoyed was playing the piano at the nursing homes. During their five years in Japan she taught English. For twenty-three years she was employed by American Greetings card company working for them in three different places.

While in San Angelo she has been the “card lady” for the Salvation Army Family Store, a member of the bus station ministry at First Baptist Church, and a food stocker at the Regional Food Bank.

She never lost her love of learning, taking classes at the two seminaries where her husband graduated and at two colleges.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Habitat For Humanity or the Salvation Army.

A visitation will be held at Johnson’s Funeral Home on Wednesday, April 25 from 6:00 to 9:00 PM. A memorial service will be at the chapel of First Baptist Church at 2:00 PM Thursday April 26.

Family and friends may sign the online register book at www.johnsons_funeralhome.com