EMILY KAY HAYES

Emily Kay Hayes, 80, of Cassville passed away on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, at Mercy Hospital in Joplin. She was born in Bartlesville, Okla. on Feb. 13, 1944; the daughter of Robert and Latrell (Jones) Nunnallee.
On April 14, 1962, she married Bobby Ray “Bob” Hayes in Miami, Okla. They were married for 60 years when he passed away in 2022.
She was a member of the Cherokee tribe, and kin to the legendary Will Rogers. Raised by her maternal grandparents, Guy and Eva Prater, from the age of six, her  roots ran deep in the Cassville community where she lived for 64 years. She was a proud graduate of Cassville High School, class of 1962. She worked at Wooten’s Drug Store during high school and later dedicated many years as an inspector for Justin Boot. She was baptized in Flat Creek alongside her husband, Bob and was a devoted member of Gunter Methodist Church in Butterfield for 50 years. In later years she attended Blessing Heights Worship Center in Cassville.
She is survived by her son, Kevin Hayes of Cassville; daughter, Glenna Hayes of Cassville; sister, Norene (Mick) Bridges of Branson; nine grandchildren; 18 great- grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Bob; her parents; two sons, Robert and Ernest Hayes; and daughter-in-law, Tammy Pointer-Hayes.
Services were held on Tuesday, Jan. 21, at Gunter Methodist Church in Butterfield under direction of Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville. Pastor Jerry Nickle conducted the services. Burial was at Gunter Cemetery in Butterfield.