Arlene E. Hayes
December 20, 2008
Former Fontanelle resident dies, Arlene Emma Jean Purdy Hayes went to heaven Saturday, December 20th, 2008 at the age of 89 yrs, 4 months and 20 days.
Arlene was born in Prussia Center, Adair Co., Fontanelle, Iowa on August 1, 1919 to the late William James Purdy and Cynthia Little Moore Purdy (known to us as Grandma Thomas). William and Cynthia were among the early settlers of Adair Co.
After William’s death in 1921, the family moved to Fontanelle, where Arlene was baptized into the M.E. Church and attended Fontanelle High. She was very involved with her church and in school; she played the violin and entered many singing contests. There she met Robert Hayes. After their graduations, Bob in 1934, Arlene in 1937, they were united into marriage at the M.E. Church Parsonage on May 28th, 1937. Shortly thereafter, they moved to Des Moines and to this union, there were eight children born. Cynthia Lloydene Marcketti, Sharon Kay Greene, Robert Bryant Jr., Barbara Ann Dakovich, Beverly Jean Dakovich, Gary Lee (Cindy) Hayes, David Allen Hayes and Theresa Marie (Micheal) Kern. In the late 1950’s Arlene became a Tupperware Dealer; she won a new Ford Fairlane for being the top sales person of the year. She later sold Real Estate in the Des Moines area.
After Bob lost his battle with cancer in 1976, with the help of her children and grandchildren she was able to remain in the family home Bob had built in the late 1940’s. She looked forward to watching the Iowa Hawks play and the Triple Crown Races, when her granddaughter Robin’s husband Trevor Denmon, announced the races. She enjoyed many travels and adventures with her life long friend, Mary Spencer. They spent many winters at Lloydene’s in Apache Jct., Az., and with Gary and Cindy in Adkins, Tx.
Before her illness of congestive heart failure, she enjoyed making crafts, dolls, and afghans for her Great Grandbabies, who lovingly called her “Granny”.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Robert; her grandson, Jimmy Dakovich; her parents; sister, Gladys Bakerink; brothers, Otis, Maynard, Floyd, Frankie and Raymond Purdy.
Although she suffered greatly with her illness, she was at peace with her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and many friends by her side, when God called her home.
Those to mourn her passing are: her eight children, 19 Grandchildren, 29 Great Grandchildren, 2 Great Great-Grandchildren and numerous friends.
Funeral Services will be held Tuesday, December 23rd at 2:00 p.m. with a visitation from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. at Hamilton’s near Highland Memory Gardens, 121 NW 60th Ave., Des Moines, Iowa. Internment will be beside her husband at Highland Memory Gardens. There will be a reception to follow at the funeral home.
Mom, Grandma, Granny and friend, we will all tenderly and lovingly miss you.
Memorial Contributions may be made to Taylor House Hospice in loving memory of Arlene.
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com
Linda Payton
12/22/2008
We are close friend of Barb, have been to Arlene's home for a party and then spent more time with her when she was at University Park. Ginger and I work in the Activity department. We enjoyed our visits with Arlene and watching the Gaither Gospel DVD's. Our last beautiful memory was on Sunday Dec 7th when Barb and her sister was visiting Arlene at Univerity Park. They brought her down to watch us decorate the Christmas tree in the activity room. We had the Gaither's Christmas dvd going and all us were having a good time. She really enjoyed being a part of it and watching the tree get decorated even during her illness. Our prayers go up for your family in this time of loss. Hold tight to all the wonderful memories, the sadness will give way to smiles. Remember our loved ones are not in our past but in our future. Those of us who love the Lord and have accepted Christ will see her again. Barb, Ginger and I are sorry about the loss your family and friends are going through. We know Connie thought a lot of your mom and this is hard on her to.
Love you
Your friends
Ginger and Linda
Jannean Elverum
12/22/2008
I want to say how sorry I am for the loss of Arlene, she was one of the most genuine, loving people I have known.
She was strong and stubborn as the day was long, but cared very deeply for those she loved. We had many talks about her life and about her kids, and grandkids, and great grandkids, of how much she loved you and just wanted you all to be ok when she went to heaven, and even some of her regrets in life. None of them I thought had very much bearing on her life or others, but she was very consciuos of these things.
And was in hopes of Gods forgiveness for these things. I just told her that our God is very loving and forgiving and there should not be any problems, and she would just laugh and smile and thank me.
I loved her very much, after coming to know her and care for her when she needed me. Or just being able to be there to chat. She became so dear to me.
She was a very good friend, a mother, a grandmother, a mentor all wrapped in onefor me.
And no one in this day an age would have a better neighbor.
I will miss her so dearly and there will not be a day that goes by that I will not think of her. I think I already told David, but it was a privilidge and a blessing to have had her in my life.