Elwood Martin “Woody” Hays, age 85 of Salem, passed away on Monday, December 28, 2020, at Deaconess Midtown Hospital in Evansville, IN.
Elwood was born on August 25, 1935, in Salem, IL, the son of Edgar Oscar Hays and Bertha Marie (Cruthis) Hays Prosise. He married Betty Lou Mossberger on April 23, 1955, in Salem and she preceded him in death on December 26, 2010.
Survivors include his sons, Kenny Hays and wife Kim of Salem; Marty Hays (Lori) of Salem; two daughters, Bonnie Ulrey of Salem and Connie VanMatre and husband Jim of Kell; two brothers, Jerry Prosise and wife Missy of Hoopeston, and Paul Prosise and wife Sharon of Effingham; two sisters, Nola Booher and husband Robert of St. Elmo and Kathryn Booher of Salem; grandchildren, Michael Ulrey and wife Sara of Salem, Manda Sellers and Jimmy of Salem, Brent VanMatre of Kell, Branden VanMatre and special friend Julie Bowen of Youngtown, AZ, Kelli Hays and special friend Kyle Webster of Salem, Kyle Hays and wife Amanda of Kell, Kristin Donoho and husband Zach of Salem, and Lauren Brown and husband Damien of Louisville; great-grandchildren, Shelly Collier Landreth and husband Lance, Kaden Donoho, Ava Donoho, Seth Ulrey, Emma Ulrey, Keagan Webster, Korben Webster, Caleigh Hays, Kolsen Donoho, Zaylee Donoho; and one great-great-grandchild, Florence Landreth.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his stepfather Gerald Prosise, his wife, four brothers, Murl, Charlie, Donald, and Kerroll.
Elwood was a member of the Harvey’s Point Christian Church. He was a member of the Oddfellows Lodge 114 in Salem for over 45 years. As a teenager, Elwood worked at the Illinois Brokerage and worked part-time on the family farm. He then worked at Kingwood in Flora, Sears Roebuck in Flora, managed an Emco Service Station in St. Elmo, and retired from Duncan Oil Company in Salem for over 30 years.
Funeral services for Elwood Martin “Woody” Hays will be held on Tuesday, January 5, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. at Harvey’s Point Christian Church with Robert Webb and Randy Sands officiating. Burial will follow at the Harvey’s Point Cemetery. There will be a visitation on Monday at Crouse Funeral Home in Salem from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. Memorial contributions can be made to the Salem Oddfellows Lodge 114 or Harvey’s Point Cemetery and can be left at the funeral home. Online condolences can be made at www.CrouseFH.com or on the funeral homes Facebook page.
