Verna Hays

Mass of Christian Burial for Verna Hays will be held at 2:00 p.m., Monday, March 2, 2020 at St. Matthew’s Catholic Church with Father Cliff Jacobson officiating; interment to follow at Mt. Pisgah Cemetery. Visitation will take place from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Sunday, March 1, 2020 at Gillette Memorial Chapel with Vigil at 7:00 p.m. Verna Mae Hays, 90, passed away surrounded by loved ones on February 26, 2020 at Close to Home Hospice shortly after suffering from a stroke. Verna was born on November 24, 1929 in Denver Colorado to Vern K. and Clara May (Benton) Thomas Fox. Verna attended grade school and high school in Gillette, Wyoming before earning her bachelor’s degree at Black Hills State College. On August 4, 1948, she married William R. Hays in Gillette, Wyoming. Verna enjoyed raising her family and attending their many activities, volunteering at St. Matthew’s Catholic Church, birdwatching, camping and working on scrapbooks.  She was a member of St. Matthew’s CCW, was past president of the Sheridan Deanery council of Catholic Women and was a member of National Audubon Society and Northern Hills Bird Club. Verna Hays is survived by her husband of 71 years, William R. Hays; children, Tom (Nancy) Hays; Barb (John) Dietrich; Elizabeth “Betsy” (Jack) Jones; Dave (Regina) Hays; Virginia Hays; Paul (Jodie) Hays and Dan (Wendy) Hays; grandkids include Sena (Corey) Piekkola, Susan Dietrich, Nathan (Jennifer) Jones, Desiree Wann, Luke Hays, Steven Forro, Amanda (Bertine) Bahige, Angela (Kelton) Claggett, Melanie Reddon, Andrew Hays, Tim Hays and Allison Hays; great-grandkids are Logan, Mariah and Hailly Barnum, Kailey, Breahna and Paige Piekkola, Grayson Jones, Giselle and Drake Bahige, Channing and Carter Claggett.  Verna was preceded in death by her parents, infant son John, grandson Eric and great-grandson Marcus. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made in Verna’s name to benefit St. Matthew’s Catholic Church. Memorials and condolences may be sent in care of Gillette Memorial Chapel 210 West 5^th Street, Gillette, WY 82716. Condolences may also be expressed at www.gillettememorialchapel.com