Anna (Nichols) Hays

Funeral Service at Union Valley Baptist Church, Cookietown, OK, Saturday, May 27, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. under the direction of Hart-Wyatt Funeral Home in Walters, OK.

Anna Joyce (Nichols) Hays was born to Henry Leander “Buck” and Jewel Mabel (Cornelius) Nichols on August 19, 1941 in Grandfield, OK and departed this life in Decatur, TX on May 21, 2023 at the age 81 years, 9 months and 2 days.

Anna grew up at Cookietown, OK, attending Union Valley Schools through the 10th grade and graduated from Big Pasture High School in 1959. She attended college at Midwestern and then to Cameron College in Lawton. While there she married Thomas Bradley Hays in 1961 at Lawton and to the union 2 children were born. They then moved to Ada, OK, attending East Central University. They moved on to Richardson, TX and he began teaching while she finished her bachelors at East Texas in Commerce. 

“Mrs. Hays” began her teaching career in Dallas before moving to Burkburnett, Texas in 1973 where she taught in the elementary. In the 1980’s they moved to Wichita Falls and she taught 3rd grade and choir at Huey Elementary. They lived at Lake Arrowhead for a time before moving back to Burkburnett in 1999. This time she enjoyed subbing for the Burkburnett Schools. 

Anna enjoyed crossword puzzles, playing Christian music, reading and traveling. She was a Christian who loved the Lord with all her heart and believed in the power of prayer. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, Buck and Jewell Nichols. 

She is survived by a son, Mark Hays of Cleburne, TX; a daughter, Stephanie Smith of Burkburnett, TX; 3 brothers, Kenneth and Mary Nichols of Colleyville, TX, Ray and Sherrie Nichols of McCoy, TX and Jerry Nichols of Lake Kiowa, TX; a sister, Patty McCullough of Burkburnett; 4 grandchildren, Richard Hays and Angie Hays both of Cleburne, Autumn Hays of Burkburnett and Kaitlyn Smith of Jacksonville, FL; several nieces and nephews, cousins and friends. 

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