Hays

Joseph A. Hays, 90, of Prospect died Monday at VA Butler Healthcare after an illness.

He was born in Prospect, Aug. 14, 1920, and was the son of Robert G. and Lois Shidemantle Hays.

He graduated from Prospect High School in 1938 and graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a bachelor's degree in business administration. He also was a member of Delta Mu Delta, a business honor society.

Mr. Hays was a veteran of World War II, having served in the U.S. Army Air Corps.

He retired from Pullman Standard in Butler in 1982 as plant manager. He was a former mayor of Prospect and had been a member of the town council.

He was a lifelong member of the Presbyterian Church of Prospect, where he was a trustee and elder.

He also was a member of the Slippery School Board for 12 years and was a past president. He was a member of the Prospect American Legion Post 417; the Prospect Preservation Society; the William H. Miller Masonic Lodge 769 in Butler, where he was a past master and a member for more than 50 years; the New Castle Consistory; the Elks Club of Butler; the Sons of the American Revolution; and the Antique Auto Club of America; and was a Butler County Super Voter, having voted for more than 50 years.

Survivors include two daughters, Mrs. Sharon Pell of Franklin and Mrs. Jere (Novelle) Donovan of Harrisville; a son, Joe (Lillie) Hays of Houston, Texas; nine grandchildren, R. Scott Pell Jr., Jeremy (Alma) Donovan, Lindsay Pell, Brian (Erin) Donovan, Heather (Nick) Adams, Colin Donovan, Meghan Donovan, Jillian Hays and Joseph Hays III; and four great-grandchildren, Keegan and Kaylee Donovan and Sarah and Nathaniel Adams.

He was preceded by his wife, Eleanor Marburger Hays, who he married June 6, 1942, and who died May 6, 1994. and three brothers, Dean, Billy and Robert Hays.

<B>HAYS </B>— Visitation for Joseph A. Hays, who died Monday, May 2, 2011, will be from 2 to 4 and 6 to 9 p.m. Friday at the <B>Jay Bryan Funeral Home</B>, 443 Main St., Prospect. Funeral services will be Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Presbyterian Church of Prospect with the Rev. Robert Allison of the church and Bob Smith, chaplain at the VA Butler Healthcare, officiating. Burial will be in Crown Hill Cemetery in Prospect.Masonic services will be at 6 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Prospect Community Library Endowment Fund, 357 Main St., Prospect, PA 16052 and to the Shriners Hospital for Children- Erie, 1645 West Eighth St., Erie, PA 16505.