Mrs. Violet Irene Hays, 82, died May 21, 1985, at the Regency Health Care Center in Osawatomie, where she had made her home since her health failed in 1978.

The oldest of four children of Gilbert and Lottie Martha Jones Moraine, she was born Dec. 20, 1902, in LaCygne. They moved to the Osawatomie area in 1909 and she attended the Osage Valley School.

Mrs. Hays was known to be an excellent student and won recognition in music contests as a vocalist and pianist. She was valedictorian of her 1922 graduating class at Osawatomie High School.

She taught school at the Plum Creek School and in March 1923 she married Walter Ray Hays in Paola. They were the parents of eight children. Mr. Hays was the original caretaker of the Osawatomie Lake and Golf Course and Mrs. Hays was in charge of the Anglers Club there.

She was a former member of the Plum Creek United Methodist Church and then of the Green Valley Baptist Church. She taught Sunday school and participated in church music.

Preceding her in death were her parents; her stepmother, Anna Rudicel; one brother, Cecil Moraine; a sister, Mrs. Gladys Henness; her husband, Walter; two children, Deana and William Hays; one grandson, Michael Neuenschwander; and twin great-granddaughters, Candie and Sandie Day.

Her survivors include her four sons, Raymond Hays of Clackamas, Ore., Charles Hays of Atchison, Kan., Robert Hays and Walter Hays, both of Osawatomie; two daughters, Mrs. Ona Mae Neuenschwander of Jefferson City, Mo., and Mrs. Linda Carter of Belleville, Ill.; a sister, Mrs. Estaleen Stone of Osawatomie; one stepbrother, Ira Rudicel of Paola; 18 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.

Services were at Eddy-Birchard Funeral Home in Osawatomie. The Rev. Richard Landess, the pastor of the Green Valley Baptist Church, officiated. The soloist was Hazel Wilhoite and she was accompanied on the organ by Nelle Dollar. The songs were "In the Garden" and "How Great Thou Art".

The pallbearers were grandsons. The burial was in the Osawatomie Cemetery. Memorials were given in her name to the Green Valley Baptist Church.