Donald “Don” Lewis Hays, of Anderson Indiana, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on March 13, 2024 at the age of 95.
Don was born in Sanders IN, Jan. 5 1929 to the late Lyle Gwen Hays and Viola Deckard Hays. He graduated from Bloomington University High School, and earned his BA and Master’s degrees from Indiana State. Don married his high school sweetheart, Joy Margie Lou Wiley, on August 12, 1950 and they celebrated 74 years together. Don and Margie lived in Crawfordsville IN before permanently residing in Anderson.
Above all else, Don loved teaching. He judged himself by the successes of his students and took immense pride in their work, often bragging about them decades later. Don taught for 60 years: history and graphic arts in Crawfordsville, then printing in Anderson. He rounded out his career as a guidance counselor in Anderson—something he’d excelled at with all his students. He was the former Pres. of the International Graphic Arts Education Association, former Exalted Ruler of the Anderson Elks, served on the Presidential Commission for Vocational Education, and was a member of the Bloomington Moose Lodge for over 50 years.
Don could strike up a conversation with ease and was always within 3 degrees of separation, not 6, from everyone he met. These skills shone whether he was working at the Hays Store in Sanders as a boy, bartending in his hotel room while at a conference, or on a cruise. You could hear him laughing from down the hall and would always find him mid story with a mischievous twinkle in his eye. He loved family, and extended his family with the deep relationships he built with friends and former students. He loved traveling, photography, and history-especially local history. He attended more than 50 Indy 500 races and never missed an IU basketball game.
Don is survived by his son, Russell (Kathy) Hays of Lapel; daughter, Erin (Bill) McCarty of Anderson; goddaughter, Angie McCoy of GA; granddaughters Melissa (Justin) Jaynes of NH and Jennifer (James) Kimble of Anderson; great grandsons, Jayden, Jaxson and Jareth; nieces Jaclynne Parody, and Ivy (Andy) Branam, and Lydia Branam; and nephew Michael Tosti. He also leaves behind his loyal K-9 companions Lady and Jack.
He was preceded in death by Margie; two sisters, Rhenda (Jack) Benson and Merilyn Hays of Bloomington; and a godson, Ron McCoy of GA.
In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to the Community North Health Cancer Foundation or Shriners Children’s Hospitals.
A celebration of life service will be held Tuesday, March 19 from 5-7 PM with a brief memorial service by Pastor David Shafer following at North Wesleyan Church in Anderson, 1947 E. 240 North; Anderson, IN 46012. Don will be buried at Clover Hill Cemetery in Harrodsburg with Margie at a later date.
Local arrangements handled by Rozelle-Johnson Funeral Service
Post online condolences at www.rozelle-Johnson.com