Florence Hayes

Florence Ruth Hayes, 88 of Amarillo Texas, passed away on Friday, November 5th, 2021. A memorial service and interment will be at Fort Lyon Cemetery, 7 miles east of Las Animas Colorado at a later time. Arrangements are entrusted to Beeson ~ Morrison Funeral Directors.Flo was born on February 10th, 1933 in La Junta, Colorado to Phillip and Elizabeth (Marcus) Johannes. Flo grew up in La Junta and was raised in the Lutheran Church. She enjoyed helping her mother in vegetable and flower gardens, which were often elaborate. Flo also talked about spending time as a child at her Uncle Bob Marcus’ ranch in Woodland Park Co. Flo went to school at La Junta High School and attended bookkeeping college in Colorado Springs. She met and married the love of her life, Odas Hayes Jr. They lived and worked in multiple locations throughout the southwest United States. They were married 64 years and loved each other deeply. Flo worked in the Holly Sugar Factory in Rocky Ford Colorado during harvest as extra help. When living in Colorado with 6 young children Flo would spend the summers in the local fields picking all kinds of fruits and vegetables canning and freezing and putting away enough food to completely feed the entire family of 8 for the year. At times she would put away as many as 800 jars of food. Flo and her sister Elsie would purchase 100 chickens every year and butcher and clean all of them for the two families. Moreover, Flo was an amazing seamstress who would sew most, if not all, the clothes the children wore to school when they were young. Flo was a homemaker extraordinaire and was a huge contribution to the health and wellbeing of her family. While the family lived in Swink, Flo also earned extra money by sewing. She did many weddings including the gown and bridesmaids dresses, she made cheerleader uniforms and charged little to nothing to help out the school kids. She took great pride in her seamstress ability and even more pride in helping others. Flo worked for Monfort at Cactus,Tx in the crane room for 10 years in the 1980’s. She loved to needlepoint, crochet, cross-stich, and sing gospel music. Her primary job was homemaker and loving mother raising 6 children. Flo was preceded in death by her sister: Miriam Meinecke; parents: Phillip and Elizabeth Johannes; grandson: Tyler Stone; great grandson: Dyson Rusher; grandson: Matthew Rusher; her husband: Odas Hayes Jr.; and sister: Clara Seamon.She is survived by her children: Bruce Hayes and wife Erika of Seattle, WA, Sandy Rusher and husband Ron of Sugar City, CO, Pam Ritter and husband Keith of Peyton, CO, Brenda Stone and husband Jody of Sunray, TX, Roy Hayes of Canon City, CO, Jay Hayes and wife Nikki of Dumas, TX; sister: Elsie Dikeman of Bethune, CO and brother in law Joseph Seamon of Las Animas Colorado; grandchildren: Brett Rusher, Amanda Rusher, Jason Hayes, Cheryl Hayes, Marshall Hayes, David Stone, Dax Hayes and Josie Roberts; great grandchildren: Tyler Young, Maddox Hayes, Torin Hayes, Paisley Hayes, Barret Hayes, Ransom Turner, McKenna Turner, Callie Rusher, Kimber Stone and Remi Stone; Kaebren Roberts, Audie Roberts and Troy Roberts; great great grandchildren: Shadry Rusher and Lanham Leoffler.The family suggests with gratitude the memorials be made to Alzheimer’s Association.The family would also wish to express their gratitude to the staff at The Sycamore for their gracious care of their mother.