Kern County CA Obituary Project Obituaries.....Hays, Sr., John Junius  March 21, 2005
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
K T bluewolf@onemain.com March 31, 2005, 12:23 am

The Tehachapi News 
John Junius Hays Sr.
Feb. 13. 1925 - March 21. 2005

John Junius Hays Sr., 80, passed away March 21 at his home in Tehachapi.

John was born on Feb. 13, 1925 at Hermitage, Tenn. His parents, Doc and Berry, 
had two daughters and one son. Young John and his family lived near President 
Andrew Jackson's home, The Hermitage, one of the largest plantations in the 
South. John has boyhood memories of playing on the bannister of the Jackson 
home and walking in the surrounding fields and orchards.

After graduating from the University of Tennessee, John married Imogene Poyner 
on Thanksgiving Day, 1947. They settled in Old Hickory, Tenn., near Nashville 
and bought his parents a home next door.  

The Dupont plant was nearby and John worked for that company all the while 
they lived in Tennessee.

Their family began in 1948 with the birth of daughter Sharon, and two years 
later along came Shauna in 1950. 

John and Imogene moved to Panama City, Fla., in 1959 to begin a new life in 
the motel and florist business. John Jr. was born there. As he grew, John 
accompanied his parents on trips to Hawaii, Greece, and other trips around the 
world.

The Hays loved helping people, especially near the Christmas holidays, and 
were known to give away Meltown decorated Christmas tree to a family who 
didn't have one and took cookies to the highway patrol and police who were on 
duty during the holidays.

In 1998 John moved to Cayucos to live with Shauna and David Bowers. He 
and "Little Bit" enjoyed the downtown area of Morro Bay. 

He moved to Tehachapi in April 2004, where he quickly adjusted to the 
mountains and the welcomed train whistles. The mountain air and weather agreed 
with him and he walked Little Bit near the mountains instead of the ocean. 

John was a collector and enjoyed finding and saving coins of all kinds. Family 
heirlooms were especially valuable to him because of the memories they brought 
back of his father and mother in Tennessee. 

John's children were precious to him and he always was concerned with their 
lives and health.

John is survived by daughter Shauna Bowers, of Tehachapi; son John J. Hays, 
Jr. and his wife Terry, of Deland, Fla.; grandchildren, Candy Alford, Jason 
and Christian Erlingspill, Noah King, John J. Hays III, Crystal, Melanie and 
Katie Hays; and step-daughter, Marie Bradford and her husband Jaime, of 
Nashville, Tenn. He was preceded in death  by his daughter, Sharon King; and 
son-in-law, David Bowers.

Wood Family Funeral Service handled the cremation arrangements.



Additional Comments:
Volunteer submission - No relation to deceased.

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