Joseph W. 'Joe' Hays, 84

Joseph W. "Joe" Hays, 84, passed away Monday, Sept. 20, 2004, at the Montana Veterans Home in Columbia Falls.

He was born Sept. 12, 1920, to Joseph W. and Annie (Martindale) Hays in Pittsburg County, Okla., the youngest of 12 children. He was schooled in Oklahoma. He worked on the family farm until he left home to work as an ironworker in New York and Texas.

He was called to the Army in 1943 and served with the combat engineers and saw combat action in France, Belgium and Germany. He also saw action in the Asiatic Pacific, the Philippines and Japan. He received many medals including the American Theater Service medal, European African Middle Eastern Service medal, Asiatic Pacific Theater Service medal, Philippine Liberation Service medal, and the Good Conduct medal. He was discharged from the service in 1946, at Fort Lewis, Wash.

He moved to California and worked in construction and logging. He moved his family back to Washington after 20 years and continued working construction there. He retired to Montana in 1994.

He was an active member in the AA program, Carpenters Union, Masonic Lodge, Epworth United Methodist Church, the VFW, and the Moose Lodge.

Joe is survived by his wife, Margaret, of Kalispell; daughters, Joanne and Winfred Coon of Lindsey, Okla., Susan Kilcup, and Ann Hays of Seattle; son, Joseph W. and Brenda Hays of Olympia, Wash.; stepchildren, James and Deb Thompson of Katy, Texas, Ron and Margie Thompson of Whitefish, Lori and Terry Holleman of Kenai, Alaska, and Joseph Thompson of Whitefish; 16 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and -nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 25, at the Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls. Rev. Ray Davis will officiate. Inurnment will follow the service in Glacier Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Kalispell with military graveside honors.