Loretta Hayes Williams, 86, died Monday, Aug. 26, 2019, in Raymore.
She was born Nov. 15, 1932, to Homer and Neva (Ramsey) Hayes, in Stickney, Dry Creek Township, Maries County.
She was united in marriage to George P. Williams, Nov. 25, 1953, in Kenner Church of God near Hayden.
Loretta was a 1949 graduate of Vienna High School and studied home economics at University of Missouri, Columbia. She taught school in Prairie Home from 1953-54 then briefly was a waitress in Kansas City at Nichols Lunch and the Y-Drive In before moving to Iowas City. She managed the cafeteria at the lab school, taught science and home economics courses and started graduate school. Loretta was president of Holmes Park Kindergarten and Truman Elementary PTAs, Hickman Mills Council of PTAs, and was the first president of Hickman Mills High School PTSA. She was the founder of the “picture lady” program at Truman Elementary. Loretta was a Camp Fire leader and served on the board of Community Mental Health Center South. She was an elder of Hickman Mills Community Christian Church and the first woman chair of the church board. Later, she was an agent for Fidelity Union Life Insurance and opened Select Tours and Travel. Loretta was of the Christian faith.
She was preceded in death by parents, Homer and Neva; husband, George; and brothers, Gerald and Norman.
She is survived by children, Beth Slinkard of Central Islip, N.Y., Tom Williams of Sarasota, Fla., Carol Adams of Overland Park, Kan., Laura Sienkiewicz and husband Paul of Kansas City and Jim Williams of Homestead, Fla.; brothers, Roy Hayes of Dixon and Wesley Hayes and wife Velma of Vienna; and eight grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Saturday, Aug. 31, at Kenner Church of God and Cemetery. Memorial services were held Sunday, Sept. 1, at First Baptist Church of Kansas City. Memorial contributions suggested to Sheldrick Wildlife Trust for orphaned elephants or the Kenner Cemetery Fund.
Arrangements entrusted to Birmingham-Martin Funeral Home, Vienna.
