Nicholas Leo Hays
Nicholas Leo Hays, age 78, died peacefully on Monday, December 28, 2020 in his home
surrounded by his wife and family.
Nick was born on February 16, 1942. He was raised in Swinkey and was a lifelong member
of St. Stephen Catholic Church.
He was the son of the late Francis Lamar and Mary Louise
(Hamilton) Hays. He enjoyed telling his kids he was fourth in his graduating class at St. Stephen
Catholic High School. (There were only four in his class!)
Nick enjoyed spending time with his large family, especially at Hays’ Christmas every year. He
was the third of 13 kids that Lamar and Mary Louise raised on their family farm where Nick
learned to care for the pigs alongside his grandad, dad and brothers.
On November 24, 1962, Nick married his lifelong love, Henrietta Anne Gill. They had five
children, Kimberly from Anchorage AK, Kelly (Scott) Fray from Boonville, Todd (Rosanne),
Scott (Riss) from Monroe City and Shawn from Anchorage AK.
Nick and Henri have 12
Grandkids: Jessica Alford, Chris Alford, Linsey (Mark) Thompson, Acacia (Jared) Hagan,
Donnie (Ashley) Hays, Nick Fray, Anna (Sam) Robinson, Dahrea (Kody) Karr, Juliana (fiancé
Cole Gilkey) Hays, Laine Hays, Addi Hays and Denten Hays. They also have 11 great-
grandkids.
Nick moved to Kansas City for a short time after high school, where he attended auto body
trade school. He returned to Monroe City where he worked for JC Shoemyer at JC Paint &
Body Shop. He also served as a volunteer fire fighter. After a few years, he moved his family
back to the country and formed a partnership with his Dad and brothers raising hogs and
farming. He retired from farming in 2002, but still remained involved in Two Mile Pork and
enjoyed going out to the farm whenever he had the chance.
He was very active in the Monroe
City FFA Alumni, Monroe City Young Farmers, Missouri Pork Producers, and Missouri Farm
Bureau. He also served 40 years on the Board of Directors for the Ralls County Electric
Cooperative. He volunteered many years at the Swinkey Picnic, the Monroe City Nutrition
Center, and served on the St. Stephen’s Catholic Cemetery Board.
Besides family, Nick enjoyed his weekly prayer groups, South Side Bridge club, fellow Knights
of Columbus brothers, and his Rock Steady Boxing Team to fight Parkinson’s Disease.
He helped to inspire many friends and community members on their faith journey through his kind
heart, soft demeanor and personal love of God.
The family would especially like to thank the people that helped care for Nick so we were able to
keep him home with Henri. Gracie, Andrea, Brandi, Mary, Emily, Dana, Michelle and Maria: you are all very dear to us.
Visitation was held on Sunday, January 3, from 2-5 p.m. with a Rosary at 1:45 p.m. and a prayer
service at 4:30 p.m. Funeral Mass was held Monday, January 4, at 10 a.m. All services and burial were held at St. Stephen Catholic Church at Indian Creek.
Pallbearers were his grandsons: Donnie Hays, Nick Fray, Laine Hays, Denten Hays, David Hays, Thomas
Pangborn, Dan Bichsel and Mark Hays. Honorary Pallbearers are Nick’s grandchildren and
Godchildren.
Memorials may be made to St. Stephen Cemetery, Holy Rosary School and Monroe City
Nutrition Center.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Garner Funeral Home & Chapel, Monrore City, Missouri. Online condolences can be made at garnerfuneralchapel.com.
