Obituary for Charles Hays

Charles Ray Hays, Jr., 88, was born in Boulder, Colorado on June 22, 1926. He departed this life in Ponca City, Oklahoma on December 11, 2014. He attended the Colorado School for the Deaf in Colorado Springs, Colorado until 1944, and graduated from the Oklahoma School for the Deaf in 1947 with a specialty in baking and manual training. While at the Colorado School for the Deaf, he met Lois Rosalie Carnal. They were married on May 22, 1954, in Palmer Lake, Colorado, and took residence on a farm in Ringwood, Oklahoma, a wedding gift from his parents Ray and Lois Hays. Charles remained in farming until his retirement in 1998.

He was active in the Enid Deaf Club, Enid Lions Club for the Deaf and the Oklahoma School for the Deaf Alumni Association and loved woodworking during the winter months and during the majority of his retirement.

He is survived by his wife, Lois Hays of Ponca City; his daughter Marcy White of Ponca City; daughter Sarah Rodgers and husband Bob of Ponca City; and daughter Judy Maples and husband Pete of Ringwood; grandchildren Steve and Rosalie Maltby of Norman; James Rodgers and Thomas Rodgers of Newkirk; and Mary Beth and Hannah Maples of Ringwood. Two great-grandchildren, Jonathan and Adrienne Maltby of Norman also survive him.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles Ray and Lois Hays; his sister, Esther Marie Dillman, and a son-in-law, Zang White.

The family will receive visitors at Grace Memorial Chapel on Friday, December 12, 6:00 – 8:00 pm. A funeral service will be held on Saturday at 1:00 pm in the Garriott Road Church of Christ, 3601 W. Owen K. Garriott, Enid, Oklahoma. Interment will follow at Pleasant Hill Cemetery west of Meno, Oklahoma. Casket bearers will be Charles’ grandchildren; Steve and Rosalie Maltby, James Rodgers, Thomas Rodgers, Mary Beth and Hannah Maples; and his sister’s sons, David Dillman and Mark Dillman.