William "Bill" Hays

William S. "Bill" Hays, aged 78, passed away peacefully at his home in Tipton, Missouri on June 14, 2026. The farm boy who left his family's century farm for a career in corporate America ultimately returned to his roots, spending his final years among the fields he loved.

Bill was born on July 17, 1947, in Boonville, Missouri to Howard and Lucy (Carpenter) Hays. He graduated from Tipton High School in 1965 and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Technology from the University of Central Missouri, then known as Central Missouri State University, in 1969.

On December 13, 1975, he married Judy Oehrke. Together they raised two daughters, Stephanie and Jennifer. Bill spent more than 30 years with General Motors, working in the Pontiac division at zone offices in Wichita, Kansas; Naperville, Illinois; and Overland Park, Kansas. He and Judy shared 26 years of marriage until her passing on December 4, 2001.

Following his retirement in 2000, Bill returned to Tipton and fulfilled a lifelong dream of raising Angus cattle. On February 1, 2005, he married Karlyn Dawson. Together they enjoyed traveling the world, visiting Australia and New Zealand, Alaska, Africa, the Panama Canal, and much of Europe, including Amsterdam, Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Croatia, England, Wales, Ireland, and Scotland. They also spent many happy winters in Rockport, Texas.

Bill enjoyed woodworking, model trains, his restored Oldsmobile 442, loafing around at Flash's, and watching the annual planting and harvesting of crops on the surrounding farms.

He is survived by daughters Stephanie Hays (Wayne Riekhof and Andrew Carlson) of Lincoln, Nebraska, and Jennifer Fletcher (Shane) of New Bloomfield, Missouri; his sister Virginia "Ginger" Priest of Rolla, Missouri; and his grandchildren Holden and Lucy Riekhof, Blaine and Tyson Fletcher, and Mason and Ella Carlson.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Howard and Lucy, and wives Judy and Karlyn.

He will be remembered for his quick wit, his love of family, and his deep appreciation for the simple pleasures of country life.

Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until service time on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at the Meisenheimer-Page-Dady Funeral Home in Tipton. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home with burial to follow in the Tipton Masonic Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the charity of your choice.