SAM HAYS DIES IN VIRGINIA

(06/26/2006)
A descendant of Calhoun's historical Hays family has died in Roanoke, Virginia.

Samuel Arnold Hays, 80, formerly of Arnoldsburg, died June 23, 2006.

Funeral services are scheduled Tuesday in Roanoke at Christ Episcopal Church, corner of Franklin Road and Washington Avenue in Roanoke. The Rev. Deborah Hunley will officiate. Interment will take place at Sherwood Burial Park in Salem.

He retired to Roanoke after 35 years as an employee and executive with State Farm Insurance Co. During that employment, Mr. Hays and his family were located in Parkersburg, W.Va., Charlottesville, Va., Newark, Ohio and Frederick, Md.

He was a veteran of the Army Air Corps in World War II and attended West Virginia University, receiving a Doctor of Jurisprudence in 1951.

Mr. Hays was an ever faithful Christian and devoted husband and father.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Mary Powell Hays of Roanoke; his son, Colonel (Retired) Mark W. Hays and daughter-in-law, Gwen P. Hays of Salt Lake City, Utah; his daughter, Melissa Hays-Smith and son-in-law, Howard Jerome Smith (Jerry) of Roanoke; his mother-in-law, Zoe Powell of Roanoke; grandchildren, Tara Townsend Hays, Jessie Meadows Hays, Scarlett Zoe Hays, Samuel Jerome Hays Smith and Lucy McCullough Hays Smith; his sister, Betty H. Keller and brother-in-law, John E. Keller of Lexington, Ky.; his brother, Richard W. Hays and sister-in-law, Wanda Hays of Marietta, Ohio; and many nieces and nephews also survive.