Obituary of Nancy H. Hayes

Nancy H. (Roach) Hayes, age 66, of Duxbury and Charleston, S.C., passed away peacefully on September 7, 2008, surrounded by her family at her home in Duxbury. Born the second daughter of Jeanne (Collins) and David Roach in Louisville, KY. Nancy attended Eastern High School in Louisville and Eastern University in Richmond, KY. Nancy was a social worker in Louisville for several years, before moving to Boston in 1965. In 1969, Nancy married Robert F. Hayes and they settled in Duxbury. During her life, Nancy’s passions were her family and friends, and the visual arts. She was an art major in college and continued to pursue the arts throughout her life, not only as a painter, but also a seamstress, decorator, and fashion coordinator. Nancy was an avid painter, including water bird decoys. She also used her artistic talents in developing a unique student art program for the underprivileged in a neighborhood-house setting as a social worker. Later in life, she used her artistic talents in pursuing her efforts as a volunteer in several non-profit enterprises. She was a longtime member of the Duxbury Art Assoc., serving as its President for several years, including the period of collaboration resulting in the Ellison Center for the Arts. Nancy was also active in the Duxbury Rural and Historical society, including in the restoration of the Nathaniel Windsor, Jr. House on Washington St. in Duxbury. She took particular interest in the Historic Charleston Foundation and enjoyed participation in the tour of historic homes, showing her home, which Bob and she purchased in 1996, for fundraising purposes. In 2002, the Historic Charleston Foundation recognized Nancy’s efforts and honored her with membership in the Frances R. Edmunds Society, presented for only the third time to recognize the highest level of volunteer leadership and service to the foundation. She was also an active member of the Duxbury Garden Club and the Duxbury Yacht Club for many years. Nancy leaves her husband of 39 years, Robert F. “Bob” and her children, Rob and his wife, Maureen of Scituate, Kate Hayes of San Francisco, CA., and Rebecca Hayes and her husband Jared Bartok of Swampscott. Nancy leaves a sister, Katherine Baughman and her husband Jim of Stanford, KY. She was the sister of the late Susan R. Paxton of Louisville, KY. Nancy was the loving grandmother of Caitlin and Clare Hayes of Scituate. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews and their children, and countless loving friends. A Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, Sept. 13 at 11:30 am in St. John the Evangelist Episcopal Church, 401 Washington St., Duxbury, with a reception to follow in the church hall. Relatives and Friends are also invited to the interment in Mayflower Cemetery, Duxbury at 3 pm. Visiting hours Friday 4-8 pm at Shepherd Funeral Home, 216 Main St., Kingston. Donations in Nancy’s memory may be made to the Duxbury Art Assoc., 189 Alden St., Duxbury, Ma. 02332, or to the Historic Charleston Foundation, PO BOX 1120, Charleston, SC, 29402.