Aug. 7, 1931 – Feb. 26, 2013
John Neil Hay Sr., 81, of Sweet Home died Feb. 26, 2013.
He was born Aug. 7, 1931 in Trenton, Neb. to Clark Eli and Rose Marie (Hrouda) Hay.
He served in the United States Army during the Korean War. He was awarded the Korean Service medal, United Nations Service medal and the Good Conduct medal.
He has lived in Nebraska, South Dakota, Wyoming, New York, Arizona, California and Oregon. Mr. Hay worked as a heavy construction worker. Some of the major projects he worked on include the St. Lawrence Seaway, Glen Canyon Dam, Green Peter and Foster Dams. He was the last worker to leave the Foster Dam project, with his final task being the placement of the letters “Foster Dam” on the powerhouse.
Mr. Hay was a member of St. Helen’s Catholic Church, Elks, VFW and Sweet Home Senior Center.
He loved doing puzzles and playing any type of game, especially cards, cribbage and dominoes. He also enjoyed fishing, hunting, and gardening. The Sweet Home Senior Center was his home away from home.
He is survived by his wife, LaVern; sons John Jr. and daughter-in-law Kathy Hay, Jerry Hay and life partner Bev Gaskey, Jim and daughter-in-law Lori Hay, Clark and daughter-in-law Angela Hay, and Scott Hay; an only daughter, Danielle and son-in-law Steven Hanscam; eight grandchildren; five step-grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and three step-great-grandchildren.
Mr. Hay was preceded in death by four brothers and three sisters.
A funeral mass was held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, March 5, at St Helen’s Catholic Church. Final burial, with military honors, was at Gilliland Cemetery, with a reception following at the Sweet Home Senior Center.
Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements.