Stella Mae (Cox) Hayes

OTTAWA – Stella Mae Hayes, age 88, of Ottawa passed away Tuesday, October 6, 2015 at Rivershores Care and Rehabilitation Center in Marseilles.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, October 9, 2015 at Gladfelter Funeral Home with Minister Robert M. Housby of Ottawa Church of Christ officiating.  Burial will follow in Oakwood Memorial Park.  Visitation will be held from noon until service time on Friday at the funeral home.

Stella was born April 19, 1927 in Campbellsville, Kentucky, the daughter of Lymon and Julia (Dabney) Cox.  She married Kenneth L. Hayes on April 21, 1951 in Joliet.  He preceded her in death March 28, 1997.  Surviving are her sons, Michael (Shirley) Ray Cox of Marseilles, Kenneth E. Hayes and Brian Keith Hayes, both of Ottawa; her grandchildren, Patrick Brian Hayes and Mary Frances Hayes, both of Joliet, Jeremy Hayes of Benton, KY, Jenna Hough of Marseilles, Candy Cox of Morris, and Michael Cox of Marseilles; her great grandchildren, Aries Hayes, Ashleigh Cox, Samantha, Skye, and Kyleigh Hough, and Steely and Stella Cox;  and three sisters, Kathleen Sluder and Roseleen Lowe, both of Ottawa and Evie Budach of Princeton.  She was preceded in death by two daughters, Wanda Hayes and Brenda Yott; one grandson, Wesley, in infancy; and two brothers, John and Donnie Cox.

Stella enjoyed watching Western movies and listening to Alan Jackson music.  She dearly loved her family and will be deeply missed by them.  Memorial contributions may be directed to the family.