Helen Hayes, age 91, passed away on Aug. 22, 2024, in Childress, Texas.
Services for Helen were held at 2 p.m. Monday, Aug. 26, 2024, at the Childress Church of Christ. A family visitation directly followed in the Church of Christ Fellowship Hall. A graveside committal service was held later in the day at 4 p.m. in Childress Cemetery under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home.
Helen was born on Feb. 20, 1933, to William Lewis Brown and Gertrude (Rhodes) Brown in Wichita Falls, Texas. Helen attended school in Childress until her freshman year. In 1948, her family moved to Colorado, where she graduated from Fort Collins High School in the Class of 1951. Helen then pursued a degree in education from Abilene Christian College in 1955.
On Oct. 2, 1955, Helen married the love of her life, Weldon Hayes. Their journey together took them to California while Weldon served in the army, but their hearts always remained tied to Texas. After Weldon’s service, they returned to Childress, where they would build their life together and become pillars of the community.
A lifelong member of the Childress Church of Christ, Helen’s faith was the cornerstone of her life. Her greatest passion in life were her grandchildren. She loved to take them around town to do special things which included going to Crooks Fish and Garden to see the turtles, going to the park to play, going camping in the living room and taking her granddaughters to the beauty shop.
Helen is preceded in death by her parents, William Lewis Brown and Gertrude Brown.
Helen is survived by her husband, Weldon Hayes, of Childress; sons Russell Hayes and wife Gayla, of Littlefield, Texas, and Bill Hayes and wife Shauna, of Childress; daughter Margie Strebeck and husband Brett, of Canyon, Texas; granddaughters Valerie Strebeck, of Austin, Texas, Allison Sanchez and husband Eli, of San Antonio, Texas, Brenna Hayes-Oswalt and husband Walt, of Cotton Center, Texas, and Blair Hayes and fiancé Alex Balboa, of Lubbock, Texas; grandson Will Strebeck, of Canyon, Logan Hayes, of Childress, Taylor Hayes and wife Aubrey, of Littleton, Colo., and Austin Hayes and wife Rachel, of Lubbock; and great-grandchildren Josey Wells Oswalt and Jesse James Oswalt, both of Cotton Center, Texas.
Memorial contributions may be made to your charity of choice.
