Rena Marjorie Hayes
April 1, 1911 ~ January 11, 2015
Resided in:
Asheville, NC
Asheville Butterfly Trail
Asheville – Rena Marjorie Hayes was born April 1, 1911 and died January 11, 2015 at the age of 103.
Marjorie was born in Silverton, CO to the late Ester and Wiley Passmore and grew up in Hayesville, NC. After graduating from high school, she entered nurses training in Asheville in 1929. She married Harold Manson Hayes and spent nine years living in Macon, GA then returned to her beloved mountains of Western North Carolina in 1948.
Marjorie was an avid walker. She was a member of the Carolina Mountain Hikers for 40 years and was always in awe of God's creations and handiwork. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Asheville for 68 years and had been in the Dorcas Sunday School class for the past 24 years.
She worked in the Admitting Office for Mission Hospital and later retired from Asheville Urological Associates with 23 years of perfect attendance. She was a member of the Buncombe County Chapter, North Carolina State Society of the American Association of Medical Assistants. She was a woman of unbelievable courage, strength and endurance. Throughout her life, she devoted her considerable energies and strong sense of purpose to each of her many roles, including loving mother, single parent, loyal and lasting friend. Marjorie had a marvelous sense of humor, love of family and a monumental faith in God. Even though she lost her eyesight, she never lost her vision of life. Marjorie's life---we will rejoice in remembering.
Surviving are her sister, Carolyn Benedict of Helmet, CA; her daughters, Elaine Cannon of Johnson City, TN and Carole Talman of Canton, NC; grandchildren, Billy Lowe and his wife, Sarah, of Hendersonville, NC, Debra Forrester and her husband, Julian, of Stoke on Trent, England, Elizabeth Ball and her husband, Wendell, of Youngsville, NC, Charles Talman, Jr. of Canton, NC, as well as four great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm Saturday, January 17, in the Norma Pulliam Chapel at Givens Estates. Interment will follow in Lewis Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Marjorie's name to the Givens Estates Resident Assistance Ministry, 2360 Sweeten Creek Road, Asheville, NC 28803.
Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian is assisting the family.
What an absolute joy it must have been to have had your dear Rena in your lives for such a long time. She enjoyed the sport of walking and I can appreciate her passion, having spent years connecting with our heavenly father on so many occasions – surrounded by his Mightiness. Please find comfort in reading Acts 24:15 where we are assured that there will be a resurrection. May your fond memories sustain you during the months and days ahead.