Eleanor L. Hayes, 88, of Peoria Heights, passed away on Sunday, July 10, 2011, at Bella Vista Care Center in Peoria Heights.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Thursday, July 14, 2011, at Clary Funeral Home, 428 West McClure Avenue in Peoria, with Pastor Rusty Kaufman officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to services at the funeral home. Interment will be in Swan Lake Memory Gardens in Peoria.
Eleanor was born in Akron, OH on May 5, 1923, daughter of John T. and Helen (Halter) Sullivan. She married Fred H. Hayes, Sr. on October 8, 1939 in Murfreesboro, TN. He preceded her in death on March 24, 1990. She was also preceded in death by her parents; son, James Hayes; daughter, Susan Brakebill; brothers, Donald, Jack and Jerry Sullivan; and two great grandchildren.
She is survived by her sons, Fred H. Hayes, Jr. and Larry (Lisa) Hayes, all of Peoria Heights; brother, Charles (Carolyn) Sullivan of Colorado; sister, Marian Webb of Tennessee; ten grandchildren; twenty-three great grandchildren; and thirteen great-great grandchildren.
Eleanor was formerly employed as a laundress at Methodist Medical Center. After leaving the hospital, she ran an in-home daycare for over thirty years.
She was a member of Peoria Bible Methodist Church. She collected pencils and bells and loved going to church, reading her bible and listening to gospel music.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Eleanor’s memory to the Bible Methodist Missions.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.ClaryFunerals.com.
Dear family of Eleanor, We have such pleasant memories of going to her garden, where she would pull juicy stalks of rhubarb for us. We would then sit in ladder back chairs, around the dining room table, and sip sweet tea. Sometimes Eleanor would bring a hymnal in her possession and ask Bill if he knew a certain song. If we did know the song, we would sing it together. During all of this, green beans would be simmering on a burner and happy children would be playing at her feet. Eleanor was always the same, faithfully praising the Lord for each new day. I have memories of more than 30 years ago when she would often arrive at church on Sunday with an adorable dress, which she had purchased for our young daughters during a shopping trip the day previous.
"Because of the LORD'S great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23
You are in our thoughts and prayers, Bill & Barb
