Individual Details

1940 Census. Van Buren Twp, Crawford Co, AR, Hh 450
Lived in same house in 1935
Etta Hays, 59, widow
Archie, son, 20, Clerk, Retail Grocery
Paul, son, 31, Farmer
Leon, daughter-in-law, 27
Paul Jr., grandson, 2
Mary, dau, 22

Paul Hays and I went to church camp together - at Lake Fort Smith, summer of 1951. He was tall and gangly and awkward, i was terribly shy. He followed me around a lot but I kept trying to tell him we were cousins because his name was Hays. He never did believe me. Many years later we crossed paths at a family reunion and he didn't remember going to church camp!

Obit posted at Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home website.
Paul West Hays, Jr., 84, of Van Buren, went to be with His Lord and Savior on Thursday, September 30, 2021 in Fort Smith. Paul was born on July 24, 1937 in Van Buren as the oldest child of Paul West Hays, Sr. and Mattie Leone Hays. Paul owned and operated Paul’s Men Shop in Van Buren for more than 27 years. He was a 1955 Van Buren High School graduate and served four years in the U.S. Navy.
He was preceded in death by his parents, father and mother-in-law, Gene and Jaunita Carney sister and brother-in-law, Carolyn and Jess Staggs, and brother-in-law, Danny Ashley.
Paul is survived by his wife of 57 years, Sharon of the home; two daughters, Clarissa Marie and husband Rick Mays of Arkadelphia, and Alisa Jo Floyd of Van Buren; two grandsons, James Caleb and wife Michelle Mays of Arkadelphia, and Joshua West Mays of Beaumont, Texas; one sister and brother-in-law, Jo Etta and Paul Summerhill of Van Buren; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Betty and Bobby Franklin, Joann Boster, and Bill Carney, as well as dear nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m. Monday, October 4, 2021 at First Assembly of God in Van Buren with a family committal to follow at Gracelawn Cemetery, under the direction of Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home of Van Buren, AR. The service will be live-streamed on Van Buren First Assembly of God’s website at vbfa.church.
Pallbearers include Caleb and Joshua Mays, Stephen Staggs, Brian Summerhill, Ronnie and Randy Ashley, and Brad and Brent Boster. Honorary pallbearers will be the ushers of Van Buren First Assembly of God.
The family will visit with friends from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sunday, October 3, 2021 at Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home, 4100 Alma Highway, Van Buren, AR.
Memorials may be made to First Assembly of God in Van Buren or Chi Alpha of the Ravine

Birth	24 Jul 1937	Crawford County, Arkansas
Marriage	1964	Living
Death	30 Sep 2021

Spouse	Living
Child	Living
Child	Living

Father	Paul West Hays (1908 - 1994)
Mother	Mattie Leone Willis (1913 - 2006)
Sibling	Carolyn June Hays (1942 - 2013)
Sibling	Living