Clara Edith Hays

Service: 10:30 a.m. Friday at First Baptist Church of Everman, 501 W. Barron, 76140. Interment: Laurel Land Memorial Park. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Laurel Land Funeral Home.

Memorials: Gifts may be made in Edith's memory to First Baptist Church, 501 W. Barron Ave., Everman, Texas 76140.

Edith was born Nov. 14, 1925, in Weatherford to James Lee and Bessie Dunagin Jackson. She was the third of eight children. The Jackson family moved to Littlefield where Edith graduated from Littlefield High School in 1943. During World War II, she served her country as a "Rosie the Riverter." First she worked the swing shift at Consolidated Vultee Aircraft in Fort Worth where she helped build B-32s and B-36s. After that she relocated to Portland, Ore., where she worked in the shipyards. Following the war, she returned to Texas and married Alvin Guy Hays on Dec. 23, 1946. They were the proud parents of three sons and a daughter. In the 57 years of their marriage, Edith and Guy lived in several towns in West Texas before moving to Fort Worth in 1967. Edith and Guy were active members of First Baptist Church in Everman. The family would like to extend a special thank-you to the staff at The Waterford on Cooper for the excellent care they provided for Edith.

Edith was preceded in death by her husband, Guy Hays; her daughter, Laura Hays; her brothers, James, Dan and John Jackson; her sister, Dorothy Wright.

Survivors: Sons, A.G. Hays (Marsha) of Alpine, Chris Hays (Kathy) of Arlington and Dwayne Hays (Debi) of Odessa; grandsons, Adam Hays, Casey (Callie) Hays, Conner Hays, Michael (Regina) Perry; sisters, Bessie Lee Hanks (Lester) of Hurst, Lexi Miller of Odessa, and Barbara Berry of Muleshoe; and 24 nieces and nephews who loved her dearly.