Roberta Hays Obituary

Roberta Kay Hays, 69, went to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, November 23, at her home surrounded by her family and friends. She was a Colorado native born in Colorado Springs to Robert and Mildred Paxton. She was the wife of Steve Hays for 52 years and the mother of Carol Diaz and James Hays, both of Colorado Springs. She was the proud grandmother of Anthony Diaz (Victoria) of Ft. Campbell, KY, Sasha Diaz (Didier) and Nicholas Diaz (Jasmine) of Colorado Springs and the great-grandmother of Natalie, Lorenzo, and Catalina Tello and many other adopted grandchildren. Roberta loved all children and they loved her. Roberta was deaf from birth and was a poster child for Easter Seals as a little girl. She graduated from high school in 11 years and attended Cosmetology College, passing her state board exams with the highest score in her class. She has owned and operated beauty salons locally. She also worked for Hewlett Packard for several years. Roberta was actively involved in Women's Aglow International, for several years. She founded and led Women of Hope, a Christian ministry to chronically ill women in Colorado Springs, which served as a model for like ministries here and abroad. At that time she was a spokes person for the often forgotten chronically ill, and was linked to Focus on the Family, The Joni Eareckson-Tada Ministry, and the Outreach of Hope Dravecky Ministry. Her parents, grandparents Clyde and Christine Bigelow, and her aunts Ruth Harmon, Doris Gieck, and Gladys Barker preceded her in death. Surviving is her immediate family, a brother Robert Paxton, her aunts Leta (Ben) Benefiel, Pauline (John) Foncannon, many cousins, nieces and nephews and numerous friends, all dearly loved her. Her Celebration Service will be Thursday, November 29 at 10 AM with a family visitation one hour before at Friendship Assembly of God Church, 3685 New Center Point, Colorado Springs. Interment will follow at Evergreen Cemetery. Online condolences at www.evergreenfuneralhome.org.