Virginia Hays

Virginia "Ginny" Carol Hays, daughter of Elmer and Lela (Gorvin) Sievers was born on July 30, 1930 in Oxford, Iowa. She graduated from City High in Iowa City with the class of 1948. On September 13, 1950, Virginia was united in marriage to Merlin B. Hays at the First Presbyterian Church in Iowa City. They moved to Fort Dodge, Iowa where Merlin worked at Fort Dodge Laboratories and Virginia was a homemaker. Together they had four children. Upon retirement, they made their home at Lake Okoboji on the south shore of West Lake. Winters were spent at Dreamland Villa in Mesa, Arizona. Following Merlin's death in 2011, Virginia chose to permanently move back to Fort Dodge and made her home at Friendship Haven. No matter where Ginny called home, she always made people around her feel like family. She loved her Fort Dodge family from their "working" years, her lake family from the summers and "retirement" years at Okoboji and her "snowbird" family in Mesa. Ginny loved being with people, going to church, attending PEO meetings, enjoying meals with family and friends, playing cards, dancing to music of the 40's and 50's, attending her children's activities, and her grandchildren's graduations. If someone dropped in for a visit, she was never without something sweet to serve with a cup of coffee, usually one of her homemade cookies. Ginny's earthly life ended on Saturday, November 7th. She will be missed by many family, friends and acquaintances. But her life is not done. She had a firm faith in her Savior, Jesus so her real life has just begun in His presence. She is survived by her four children, Ken (Marquita) Hays of Fort Dodge, IA, Margery (Craig) Hall of Meeteetse, WY, Paul (Lynn) Hays of Urbandale, IA, and Keith (Lori) Hays of Mound, MN. Also mourning her loss are her nine grandchildren, seventeen great-grandchildren, one sister, Leanna (Jim) Zimmer of Cedar Falls, IA and two brothers Gile (Doris)Sievers of Newton, NC and Larry Sievers of Iowa City, IA. Virginia was preceded in death by her devoted husband of 61 years, Merlin B. Hays, her parents, and her brother, Loren. In lieu of flowers, suggested memorials are the Friendship Haven Good Samaritan Fund or the First Presbyterian Church Deacon's Memorial Fund. Funeral services will be 2:00 PM Tuesday, November 17, 2020 at First Presbyterian Church. Burial will follow in North Lawn Cemetery. A visitation will be 1 hour prior to the start of the service at the church. Masks are required and also social distancing. Visitation Tue, Nov 17, 2020 at 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm First Presbyterian Church Funeral Tue, Nov 17, 2020 at 2:00 pm First Presbyterian Church