Obituary of Mary Suzanne (Michels) Hayes

Mary Suzanne (Michels) Hayes was born on May 16, 1939, in Halstead, Kansas. She passed from this life on Saturday, October 21, 2023, at home in Ardmore, Okla. She was born to Mathias and Catharine (Becker) Michels and step-mother, Irene Michels. Mary’s mother passed from her life in 1946. Mary’s father married Irene (Michels) Gustchenritter in 1948. Mary’s father traveled across the Atlantic from Luxumberg in 1919 to Ellis Island, New York, to begin his new life in the United States of America. Mary was a member of and attended of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Halstead, Kansas, in her childhood and as a young lady. She took Russell Dean Hayes hand in marriage May 26, 1956. They were married 53 years when Russell passed on November 5, 2009. She was also preceded in death by her son, Kerry Dean Hayes, in 2019. Mary is survived by her son, Greg, of Ardmore, Okla., son, Kenneth, of Ardmore Okla., two grandchildren, Kerra Dawn Frueh and her husband, Felton, of Austin, Texas, and Dustin Oleath Hayes and wife, Laura Rose Hayes, of St. Michaels, Minnesota, and their three children, Mary’s great grandchildren, Wolfe, 5 yrs of age, Woods, 3 yrs of age, and Scarlett Rose, 2 years of age. Sister-in-law, Mary Pheobe Michels, of Mt. Hope, Kansas, and lots of nieces and nephews of Kansas State who thought the world of Mary. Mary Suzanne Hayes was a true Kansas farm girl. She was always beside her Daddy when he would be plowing his fields, seeding his next corn or maize crop, and grow to harvest come fall season. She loved her father like the morning sunshine that flows through an east window in the morning time. Mary, as a young lady, would awake at 4 am to gather chicken eggs. Then get herself ready for her 3/4 mile walk to her school bus stop. During her 53 years of marriage to Russell, Mary and Russell owned Hayes Pharmacy on the corner of K Street and 12th Avenue N.W. in Ardmore, Okla. from 1968 to 1969. Mary continued on with her pharmacy career with Southwest Pharmacy from the years 1970-1989 when then she decided to retire at the age of 50. Her husband Russell continued his career with DHS of Oklahoma until his retirement in 1999 after 29 years of service. Mary, Russell, their children, and grandchildren loved being on the 80 acres at Mannsville, Okla., when all the Hayes family could get together and gather around the Camp Fire. Mary loved listening to her favorite music while she enjoyed a beer and family time, listening to George Jones, Dolly Parton, and even Willie Nelson, Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Eagles, with their son Kenneth. A pet lover, she loved having dogs, cats, pigs, cows, chickens, and especially her horse, Breeze. Thank you to hospice for coming into our home and helping our mother in the last few moments of her life and for the support Mary received from Tracy Campbell, Beth Patterson, and her most dearest friend, Bobby Couch, and her family. The family of Mary Hayes have planned family services to be held at a later date.