Dana (Reed) Hayes, 64, of Wakefield, died February 3, 2018 at the Good Shepherd Hospice House in Manhattan. She was born June 28, 1953 in Clay Center to Clayton and Betty (Phelps) Reed of Oak Hill. She attended grade school in Oak Hill and high school in Longford and Clay Center.
On January 23, 1971 she married Ted Hayes of Wakefield and the couple recently celebrated 47 years of marriage. Ted and Dana raised three children: Ryan, Tara, and Julie.
Dana was proud of her farm family roots and she cherished the memories of her childhood spent on the farm with her parents and brothers and all four of her grandparents close to her as she was growing up. She was a cheerleader, Queen of Courts and a popular student with her high school friends. She was a stay-at-home mom and taught her kids to share her love of the farm and all of the family. She was a wonderful cook and was constantly trying new recipes while maintaining those special family recipes that she passed on to her children and grandchildren. She tried hard to attend every church or school activity for the kids. And, just like her own mom and grandmothers before her, she never missed a birthday or holiday without wanting to do something and fix something special for the kids. Getting the family together for any reason was a top priority for her and she spent a lifetime making memories with those she loved most.
Dana also surrounded herself with Christian friends who were like sisters to her and she was committed to her faith and trying to be the best wife, mom, grandmother, sister, daughter, friend etc. to every person she grew close to. She loved bible study, music, walking, reading, gardening and flowers. Dana and Ted enjoyed traveling together and trips to Colorado with her family were her favorite.
Dana spent the last ten years of her life as a para-educator for special needs pre-schoolers in Wichita, Andover, Valley Center, Fort Riley and Clay Center – something that she loved to do because of her passion for children and the soft place she held in her heart for their unique special needs. She treated every child like her own.
She was a member of the Wakefield Baptist Church and American Legion Auxiliary.
Survivors include her husband Ted, son Ryan (Jamie) Hayes, Abilene; daughters Tara (Rob) Falconio, Newton, and Julie (Kyle) Murphy, Wakefield; seven grandchildren: Jessica and Jenna Hayes, Grant, Andrew, and Cane Falconio, and Dylan and Konner Murphy; brothers Randy (Juanita Wilkinson) Reed of Abilene and Mark (Jan) Reed of Silver Lake; uncles Wayne (Melvajean) Phelps of Hutchinson; Jim Phelps, Wakefield; Norman (Del) Reed of Salina, and Ronnie (Linda) Reed, Longford; brother-in-law Keith Karmann, sisters-in-law Kay (David) Fehlman, and Susan (Jerry) Meng, and numerous cousins and nieces and nephews.
Dana was preceded in death by her parents, infant brother Brian Dale, grandparents Harry and Leona Reed, Ernest and Ida Phelps, aunt and uncle Grace and Elmo Kaiser, in-laws Ted and Annetta Hayes, sister-in-law Terry Karmann, nieces (Alicia Fehlman) Foreman and Carrie (Reed) Smith, and nephews C.J. Reed and Shane Karmann.
Funeral services will be held at the Wakefield Methodist Church on Wednesday, February 7 at 10:30 am followed by interment at Timber Creek Cemetery east of Wakefield. A luncheon at the Methodist Church will be held immediately after burial. Respect calls will be at the Baptist Church in Wakefield on Tuesday February 6 from 4 to 7 pm. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials to: Wakefield Baptist Fellowship, Oak Hill Presbyterian Church, or Good Shepherd Hospice House – c/o Neill-Schwensen-Rook Funeral Home, 918 7th Str., Clay Center KS 67432.