Billy Joe Hays

Thursday, September 22, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at Waters Funeral Chapel, 500 S. Main Street in Vandalia 63382.
Officiating will be: Father Russell Judge.
Music provided by: selected favorite songs.
Interment will be in the Vandalia Cemetery.
Honorary Pallbearers: Billy Hays, David Hays, Ryan Hays, Gary DeTienne, Kevin DeTienne, Matt Williams, Travis McDonald, Cody McDonald, Clint McDonald, Chad Hays and Korbin Hays.

Billy Joe Hays passed away unexpectedly at 3:20 p.m. on Sunday, September 18, 2011 at the Audrain Medical Center in Mexico, Missouri. Billy Joe grew up and attended schools in New Hartford and Bowling Green. After school, he worked as a farmhand on an uncle's dairy farm near St. Clement and then worked for the International Shoe Factory in Vandalia. Billy Joe started working for Harbison Walker Refractories in 1951 and retired after 42 years in the press room on March 30, 1995. He was baptized into the Catholic Church and had many hobbies. His favorite past-time was fishing, but he also enjoyed hunting, trap-shooting, mechanic work, gardening, going to the casinos, attending auctions and for many years did some part-time roofing work.

Born: March 21, 1933 in Louisiana, Missouri the son of Mellie Elizabeth (Craig) Stapleton.

Married: Betty Jane Deters in St. Clement, Missouri on July 28, 1951; she survives at their home.

Survivors include: wife, Betty of Vandalia; mother, Mellie of Bowling Green; four sons: Ronald J. Hays of Vandalia; Richard L. and wife, Carol Hays of Blue Springs, Missouri; Robert A. and wife, Lisa Hays of Vandalia; Roy W. Hays of Vandalia; three daughters: Sharon Kay Norris of Vandalia; Ellen Ann and husband, Tex Williams of Vandalia; Nancy J. and husband, Eugene McDonald of Vandalia; two brothers: Phillip Stapleton of Louisiana and Dan Stapleton of Columbia, Missouri; four sisters: Patsy Stapleton of St. Louis; Paula Brown of Hannibal; Jean Raveill of Blue Springs and Joy Mudd of St. Louis; also survived by 21 grandchildren and 35 great-grandchildren.

Preceded in death by: one great-granddaughter, Dallas Frisbey.

Memorials are encouraged to the Cardinal-Glennon Children's Hospital or to the American Lung Association.