Claris Dean Hayes

Claris Dean Hayes, of Rhododendron Lane, Bluefield, WV, formerly of Welch, passed away on Saturday, December 6, 2014 at the Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, NC. Claris was born in Roaring River, NC on November 7, 1937, the daughter of the late Otis and Nell Leftwich Blackburn of Bluefield, formerly of Premier. Upon graduation from Welch High School in 1955, she became employed as a bookkeeper in the office of the W.B. Swope (Welch Gas/Co-Op), retiring in 1999. She lived in McDowell County for 63 year, moving to Bluefield in 2005. At the time of her death, she was the organist at the Premier Pentecostal Holiness Church in Premier, where she was a member for 60 years where she served as a Sunday School teacher, secretary/treasurer, pianist, co-director of vacation Bible school, and organist, her current position. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a sister, Patricia Ann Blackburn. Survivors include: Husband of 53 years: Vance Hayes of the home 5 sisters: Mrs. Phyllis Jones and husband, the late Marvin Jones Mrs. Betty Hayes and husband, the late Jerome Hayes Mrs. Sclean Atha and husband, the late Charles Atha Mrs. Wanda Bishop and husband Everett Mrs. Alma Sue Muncy and husband Charles Several nieces and nephews Her church family at Premier Funeral services will be conducted on Tuesday, December 9, 2014 at 1:00PM at the Premier Pentecostal Holiness Church with Pastor Randall Dority officiating. Burial will follow at the Woodlawn Memorial Park in Bluewell with nephews serving as pallbearers. Friends may call on Monday evening from 6-8PM at the Cravens-Shires Funeral Home in Bluewell and on Tuesday from 11:00-1:00 PM at the Premier Pentecostal Holiness Church. Memorial contributions may be made to the Leukemia Research Fund, Comprehensive Cancer Center of Wake Forest University, ATTN: Dr. Baynard Powell, Medical Center Blvd., Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1082. Online condolences will be accepted at www.cravens-shires.com Cravens-Shires Funeral Home, 3431 Coal Heritage Road (Bluewell), Bluefield, WV 24701 is serving the family.