Maxine L. Hays

Lois Maxine Hays was born October the 11th, 1918 in Audubon County, Iowa to the late Albert P. and Ida (Meyer) Petersen of Atlantic, Iowa. She passed from this life October 8th at the Exira Care Center, three days shy of 93 years old. She was married to Merion L. Hays on June 10, 1940 in Vancouver, Washington. To this union were born surviving children Douglas (Maureen) of Ozark, Missouri, Diana (John) Clark of Ankeny, Iowa and Steven (Faye) of Newark, Ohio. Maxine grew up, the oldest of seven children born to Albert and Ida, south of Exira and attended Exira High School, graduating in 1935. She was a nanny and taught country school briefly after graduation. In 1940 she drove with Marie Wieman (Wolf) to the West Coast where Merion was working. They were married, she became a homemaker, and the three children were born in Bremerton, Washington. After the War, in 1947, Max and Merion moved back to Greeley Township where for a short time they farmed. Subsequently, Merion was employed as a carpenter and electrician and Maxine was busy raising the family. She enjoyed being a member of the Sunshine Helpers Club in Greeley Township. She was, for a number of years, a member of the Christian Church in Exira, and was involved in the teaching program of the church. When the youngest of the children went to college she began moving from job to job with Merion and they lived in a mobile home in Missouri and Kentucky. In 1968 she became a member of the Church of Christ in Greensburg, Kentucky. With the passing of Merion, she lived on the farm until moving in 1993 to a condominium in Atlantic and later the Heritage House. She was a member of the Atlantic church of Christ. Maxine was a hardworking mother. She loved to garden, cook and sew. She was always helping someone or visiting the aged and infirmed. She remembered all the birthdays in the family. She loved God and the church. Maxine is preceded in death by her parents, husband, three sisters FloraBelle Hays, Ruth (Vernon) Murray and Charlotte (Ed) Swank, two brothers Robert Petersen, Dale Petersen, her granddaughter-in-law Timlin Hays, niece Cathy Swank, and nephew Dennis Hays. She is survived by brother Leroy (Marilyn) Petersen of Winchester, Kentucky and brother-in-law Stewart Hays of Osceola, Nebraska, and sister-in-law Geri Petersen of Oakland, Iowa, and sister-in-law Dorthea Petersen of Omaha, Nebraska. Grandchildren include Troy Hays of Mt. Dora, Florida, Matthew (Donna) Hays of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Stefanie (Ken) Nolder of Tallahassee, Florida, John Clark of Huxley, Iowa, Jeffrey (Amy) Clark of Batavia, Illinois, Jason (Stacey) Clark of Davenport, Iowa, Eric Clark of Moline, Illinois, Tracy (Tim) Rebstock of Spokane, Washington, Ted (Anne) Hays of Akron, Ohio, Tom Hays of Akron, Ohio, Tyler Hays of Orlando, Florida, Lynn (Zach) Perry of Olympia, Washington. Great-grandchildren: Zachary Hays; Christian and Hansen Hays; Grant, Jackson, and Hailey Nolder; Gavin Clark; Brandon, Timothy, and Megan Clark; Max, Anna, and Freedom Clark; Katie, Lexi, and Zach Hays.

Cemetery:
Interment will be in the Exira Cemetery in Exira, Iowa.

Visitation:
The Family will meet with friends Wednesday evening October 12, 2011 from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Exira, Iowa.

Service:
Funeral services will be conducted by Minister Jason Zaiger on Thursday, October 13, 2011 at 2:00 P.M. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Exira, Iowa.