John Robert Hays Jr, 81

John Robert Hays, Jr., 81 of Sedalia, died Monday, July 21, 2014, at Sylvia G. Thompson Residence Center.

He was born July 6, 1933, in Leeton, MO, son of John R. Sr. and Thelma I. Martin Hays. John's family had a musical radio program on KDRO, called "The Hays Hour."

On May 22, 1953, in Sedalia, he married Carolyn Morgan, who survives of the home.

Mr. Hays was a 1951 graduate of Smith-Cotton High School. He then began college before being drafted into the U.S. Army, serving in Germany during the Korean Conflict. He served with a touring musical show called "Take a Break" and traveled all over Germany and Austria.

He earned a B.S. in Elementary Education and a M.S. in Education from Central Missouri State University. He taught at Horace Mann School and Sedalia Middle School and was principal at Whittier Elementary School for a total of 31 years.
He was a member of Broadway Presbyterian Church, where he was an elder and deacon, VFW Post 2591, the American Legion, and 40 & 8, Voiture 333. He was also a member of National Education Association, National Principals Association, Missouri Retired Teachers Association and the Community Retired Teachers Association of which he was president for many years.

John was a kind, loving, fun and generous person who loved his family and friends. He enjoyed music, dancing, golf, his computer, his dogs and Vegas.

In addition to his wife of 61 years, survivors include a daughter, Elizabeth Anne Jones, of Kansas City North; a granddaughter, Margaret Elizabeth Jones, of Kansas City North; a brother, Russell Lee Hays, and his wife, Diane, of Independence; a sister, Wilma Williams, of Smithville; and three nieces.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday, July 25, at Heckart Funeral Home, with Dr. Gordon Bachus officiating.
Casket bearers will be Morris Brown, Leonard Butler, Jim Callis, Dr. Justyn Graham, Tom Hudson and Louis Tempel.

Honorary bearers will be Skip Bay, Jack Blackwell, Dr. John Brazos, Earl Finley, Dr. Jim Gaunt, Vernon Horn, Mike Howard, Tom Hunter, Jim Kreider, Bob McCarty, Tom Menefee, Brad Pollitt, John Thomas, Bob Wiley and Gene Williams.

Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery, with military honors by the U.S. Army and VFW Post 2591.

The family will receive friends from 12:00 p.m. until service time Friday at Heckart Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the new Sedalia Animal Shelter or Broadway Presbyterian Church for capital improvements.

Condolences may be offered at www.heckartfuneralhome.com.