Paul Eugene Hays (Plainview)

Paul Eugene Hays, 90, died Tuesday February 7, 2012 in Plainview, Texas. A memorial service for Mr. Hays will be held at 10:30 AM, on Thursday, February 9, at Kornerstone Funeral Directors Chapel, 3605 S.W. 3rd Street, Plainview, Texas. Steve Barrett, nephew of the deceased, will officiate. Arrangements are under the direction of Kornerstone Funeral Directors of Plainview. Paul, along with his twin sister Pauline, was born near the community of Sterley in northwest Floyd County, Texas on July 7, 1921. Parents were Earnest and Dorietta (Woody) Hays. A football player at Lockney High School, Mr. Hays graduated in 1940. A few weeks after graduating, he was in Floydada with his father. Some friends driving together in a car saw Paul and called out to him that they were driving to California to build airplanes and asked if he wanted to go. After asking his father’s permission, Paul got in the car and left with them. He arrived in San Diego and worked at the Consolidated Aircraft factory helping produce B-24 Liberator bombers until near the end of WWII. Paul returned to Floyd County to help on the farm after his father became ill. His time in California and his experiences while working in the aircraft factory would remain important to him throughout his life. In 1948, Paul married Betty Jo Martin, a nurse who was caring for him in the hospital. He had been loading hay onto a trailer and was suffering from a stomach ache. He said he thought that if he climbed onto the top of the hay wagon and jumped off, he could dislodge whatever was causing the problem. This resulted in his appendix rupturing and immediate admission to the hospital for surgery, thus meeting his future bride. For many years, Paul was an aggressive and successful farmer-rancher in Swisher, Moore, and Hale Counties. His work methods often seemed unplanned and impulsive, but everyone knew the best crops possible would result from his nervousness. Music, fishing and family gatherings were the activities away from the anxiety of work that Paul enjoyed most. He was self-taught at playing harmonica, guitar and fiddle. Visitors to Paul and Bettye’s home often found themselves captive audiences to his solo performances. Family gatherings would normally include Paul cutting open a watermelon, sprinkling on salt and cutting out the best parts for himself. Paul is survived by four sons and one daughter: son Kim T. and wife Donice of Kress; son Kelly and wife Delana of Dumas; daughter Jeanne and husband Ronnie Askew of Lubbock; son John and wife Cece of Dumas; son Joe and wife Roxi of Lubbock; seventeen grandchildren; twenty-two great-grandchildren; as well as many loving cousins, nieces and nephews. Mr. Hays, a member of Kress Church of Christ, is preceded in death by his wife Bettye Jo, his parents, and nine siblings: Lola May Roberson, Jewel Fay Wakefield, Ruby Gay Hart, Zula Ray Ragle, Ada Lee Richardson, John Samuel Hays, Harvey Dowdy Hays, Elmer Hays, and Effie Pauline Barrett. It is recommended by the family that memorials be directed to Hospice Hands of West Texas, 305 N. Main Street, Lockney, Texas 79241.