John Leroy Hays, 73, of La Grande, died Oct. 18 at Grande Ronde Hospital. A graveside service will be held at noon Oct. 28 at Grandview Cemetery, followed by a celebration of his life at 2 p.m. at the La Grande First Christian Church.
John was born Feb. 11, 1946, in Pendleton, to Marion and Ethel (Wise) Hays. He resided in Paradise, Elgin and La Grande and in Long Beach, California. John attended school in a one-room log cabin in Paradise and graduated from Elgin High School, where he was on the football, basketball and track teams. For a time, he held the 1 mile record at Elgin High School.
After high school, John attended San Jose Bible College, where he also played basketball and enjoyed bowling. He served in the U.S. Navy for four years fighting in the Vietnam War, where he was exposed to Agent Orange, which led to health issues costing him his life. He married Carole Louise Jones.
John was employed with the U.S. Post Office as a rural letter carrier. “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds” — John lived up to the USPS motto, missing only one delivery in his 36-year career.
John enjoyed being in the mountains, viewing wildlife, hunting and fishing. He liked to play cribbage and chess and do puzzles. An avid sports fan, John followed his sons’ college teams and coached youth baseball, basketball, football and wrestling. He was a member of the National Honor Society, VFW, American Legion, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and NRA. He was also a member of the First Christian Church, serving as an elder for many years.
Surviving relatives include his wife of 54 years, Carole; sons and daughters-in-law, Shawn Hays of La Grande, Jason and Carolyne Hays of Denver, Colorado, and Tim and Crista Hays of Lakeland, Florida; brothers, Jim Hays of Alaska, Larry Hays of Elgin, and George Hays and wife, Mary Lynn, of Alaska; sisters and brothers-in-law, Patsy and Art and Beverly and Dick, all of Goldendale, Washington; and four grandchildren.
John was born Feb. 11, 1946, in Pendleton, to Marion and Ethel (Wise) Hays. He resided in Paradise, Elgin and La Grande and in Long Beach, California. John attended school in a one-room log cabin in Paradise and graduated from Elgin High School, where he was on the football, basketball and track teams. For a time, he held the 1 mile record at Elgin High School.
After high school, John attended San Jose Bible College, where he also played basketball and enjoyed bowling. He served in the U.S. Navy for four years fighting in the Vietnam War, where he was exposed to Agent Orange, which led to health issues costing him his life. He married Carole Louise Jones.
John was employed with the U.S. Post Office as a rural letter carrier. “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds” — John lived up to the USPS motto, missing only one delivery in his 36-year career.
John enjoyed being in the mountains, viewing wildlife, hunting and fishing. He liked to play cribbage and chess and do puzzles. An avid sports fan, John followed his sons’ college teams and coached youth baseball, basketball, football and wrestling. He was a member of the National Honor Society, VFW, American Legion, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and NRA. He was also a member of the First Christian Church, serving as an elder for many years.
Surviving relatives include his wife of 54 years, Carole; sons and daughters-in-law, Shawn Hays of La Grande, Jason and Carolyne Hays of Denver, Colorado, and Tim and Crista Hays of Lakeland, Florida; brothers, Jim Hays of Alaska, Larry Hays of Elgin, and George Hays and wife, Mary Lynn, of Alaska; sisters and brothers-in-law, Patsy and Art and Beverly and Dick, all of Goldendale, Washington; and four grandchildren.
John Leroy Hays, 73, of La Grande, died Oct. 18 at Grande Ronde Hospital. A graveside service will be held at noon Oct. 28 at Grandview Cemetery, followed by a celebration of his life at 2 p.m. at the La Grande First Christian Church.
John was born Feb. 11, 1946, in Pendleton, to Marion and Ethel (Wise) Hays. He resided in Paradise, Elgin and La Grande and in Long Beach, California. John attended school in a one-room log cabin in Paradise and graduated from Elgin High School, where he was on the football, basketball and track teams. For a time, he held the 1 mile record at Elgin High School.
After high school, John attended San Jose Bible College, where he also played basketball and enjoyed bowling. He served in the U.S. Navy for four years fighting in the Vietnam War, where he was exposed to Agent Orange, which led to health issues costing him his life. He married Carole Louise Jones.
John was employed with the U.S. Post Office as a rural letter carrier. “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds” — John lived up to the USPS motto, missing only one delivery in his 36-year career.
John enjoyed being in the mountains, viewing wildlife, hunting and fishing. He liked to play cribbage and chess and do puzzles. An avid sports fan, John followed his sons’ college teams and coached youth baseball, basketball, football and wrestling. He was a member of the National Honor Society, VFW, American Legion, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and NRA. He was also a member of the First Christian Church, serving as an elder for many years.
Surviving relatives include his wife of 54 years, Carole; sons and daughters-in-law, Shawn Hays of La Grande, Jason and Carolyne Hays of Denver, Colorado, and Tim and Crista Hays of Lakeland, Florida; brothers, Jim Hays of Alaska, Larry Hays of Elgin, and George Hays and wife, Mary Lynn, of Alaska; sisters and brothers-in-law, Patsy and Art and Beverly and Dick, all of Goldendale, Washington; and four grandchildren.
John was born Feb. 11, 1946, in Pendleton, to Marion and Ethel (Wise) Hays. He resided in Paradise, Elgin and La Grande and in Long Beach, California. John attended school in a one-room log cabin in Paradise and graduated from Elgin High School, where he was on the football, basketball and track teams. For a time, he held the 1 mile record at Elgin High School.
After high school, John attended San Jose Bible College, where he also played basketball and enjoyed bowling. He served in the U.S. Navy for four years fighting in the Vietnam War, where he was exposed to Agent Orange, which led to health issues costing him his life. He married Carole Louise Jones.
John was employed with the U.S. Post Office as a rural letter carrier. “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds” — John lived up to the USPS motto, missing only one delivery in his 36-year career.
John enjoyed being in the mountains, viewing wildlife, hunting and fishing. He liked to play cribbage and chess and do puzzles. An avid sports fan, John followed his sons’ college teams and coached youth baseball, basketball, football and wrestling. He was a member of the National Honor Society, VFW, American Legion, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and NRA. He was also a member of the First Christian Church, serving as an elder for many years.
Surviving relatives include his wife of 54 years, Carole; sons and daughters-in-law, Shawn Hays of La Grande, Jason and Carolyne Hays of Denver, Colorado, and Tim and Crista Hays of Lakeland, Florida; brothers, Jim Hays of Alaska, Larry Hays of Elgin, and George Hays and wife, Mary Lynn, of Alaska; sisters and brothers-in-law, Patsy and Art and Beverly and Dick, all of Goldendale, Washington; and four grandchildren.
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