Jim Hays

James P. Hays, 74, of Viola, Illinois died Tuesday, January 18, 2022 at Mercer Manor, Aledo.

Private family services will be held at Dennison Funeral Home, Viola.  Burial, with graveside military rites, will be in Viola Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be left for Quad City Animal Welfare Center or the family.

James Paul was born January 15, 1948 in Monmouth, Illinois the son of Edward and Evelyn Barnes Hays.  The 1966 graduate of Aledo High School went on to received an Associates of Agriculture from Black Hawk College.  On January 14, 1967 he married Ann Downey in Viola.  He served as an E5 Specialist in the United States Army during Vietnam.  Jim worked in manufacturing, most recently at Oscar Mayer/Kraft Foods from where he retired.  Jim enjoyed camping, fishing, boating, and side-by-side rides.  He was an animal lover, who loved playing with his cat, Tuffy.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife of 55 years, Ann Hays of Viola; daughters:  Valerie (Brad) Johnson of Cape Coral, Florida and Linda (Dan) Dubson of Mahomet, Illinois; grandchildren:  Trevor Johnson, Luke (Patrick Bradley) Johnson, Daniel Dubson, Maryssa (Darrell) Orndorff, Ashley Bosch, and Christopher Bosch and siblings:  Melvin (Bip) Hays and Barb (Bob) Bird.

He was preceded in death by his parents, son-in-law:  Joe Bosch, and brother:  Don Hays.

Online condolences may be left at www.dennisonfuneralhome.com.