Edna Hays

Edna Mae Knoy Hays, 97, of Stigler, passed away Thursday, May 17, 2018, at Haskell County Nursing Center in Stigler. She was born Nov. 4, 1920, in Lamar, Ark. to James and Eva (Rackley) Woodard.
Edna married Lee Knoy and they made their home in Russellville, Ark.
In the 1950s, they moved to Visalia, Calif., where they made their home and worked in the orange groves and she was also the head cook at several nursing homes. After being widowed, she married Paul Hays in 1979. They moved to Stigler in 1988, where they made their home.
Edna was renowned for her fabulous cooking, she loved sewing and cross stitch. She was a lifelong Christian who was known as a prayer warrior. She had a close relationship with God and had read her Bible through and through several times.
Edna is survived by her daughter, Kathy Brady of Whitefield; her six grandchildren, Steve Knoy, Stacy Broyles, Roxanne Estes, James Knoy Jr., Charlie Brady, John Brady; her two daughters-in-law, Leona Knoy of Visalia, Calif., Charlene King of Beaver Mountain; a son-in-law, Jim Fillmore of Visalia, Calif.; 10 great-grandchildren; four great-great grandchildren.
Edna was preceded in death by her parents, John and Eva Clayton; two husbands, Lee Knoy and Paul Hays; four children, Brooks Knoy, Jim Knoy, Shirley Fillmore and Donald Knoy; a brother, Walter Clayton; a sister, Lorraine Clayton.
Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, May 23, 2018, in the King & Shearwood Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Jack Sloan officiating. Pallbearers included Jamie Knoy, John Brady, Allen Knoy and Blake Wright.
Burial followed in Garland Cemetery under the direction of King & Shearwood Funeral Home of Stigler.