Mary Anita Hayes

MARY ANITA (MEYERS) HAYES September 28, 1917 - April 25, 2011 Anita Hayes, age 93, of The Fairfax, Fort Belvoir, VA, died on Monday, 25 April 2011, surrounded by family. Anita, a compassionate, loving, thoughtful woman of America’s Greatest Generation, was born and raised in Morris, Minnesota. She graduated from St. Mary’s School of Nursing, Rochester, MN, as a certified Registered Nurse in 1939. She trained under the Mayo Brothers at the Mayo Clinic and was employed at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, MN. She left St. Mary’s Hospital for Queen’s Hospital in Honolulu, Hawaii and was in Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked on 7 December 1941. Anita remained on the island for the duration of World War II working in the local hospital. There she met her future husband, Hal, who was fighting with the U.S. Marine Corps in the South Pacific. In addition to being a Registered Nurse, career traveler, homemaker, and talented seamstress, Anita also enjoyed painting and cooking. Anita was one of the founding members of Good Shepherd Catholic Church, Alexandria, VA, where she spent many years volunteering her services. Anita was preceded in death by her son, Harold Arthur (Skipp) Hayes, III on 3 September 2006. Anita is survived by her husband of 65 and a half years, COL Harold (Hal) Arthur Hayes, Jr., USMC (Ret), of The Fairfax, Fort Belvoir, VA; daughters Heidi Hayes Bopp of Alexandria, VA, Jill Hayes (Dan) Nofziger of Wilmington, NC and Laurie Hayes (Jay) Gerrard of Poway, CA; loving grandchildren and great-grandsons. Family and friends may attend a Visitation on 2 June 2011 at 0900 at Good Shepherd Catholic Church, 8710 Mount Vernon Highway, Alexandria, VA 22309. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 1000, followed by a reception in Creedon Hall. Interment will be at 1300 at Arlington National Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Capital Caring, Philanthropy Department, 2900 Telestar Court, Falls Church, VA 22042.