Billy “Bill” Gordon Hays, 83, was born to Chester and Leta (Robison) Hays in Prosper, Texas on August 31, 1933. He passed away on December 23, 2016, at Medical Center of Plano. Bill graduated from Prosper High School in 1950. He was the senior class president. Bill played basketball and baseball, where he was an outstanding athlete. He loved to play golf. Bill joined the Hurricane Creek Country Club in Anna, Texas and was a member for forty-three years. In 1950, he enrolled at North Texas State University in Denton. Bill graduated in 1954, with a BBA. He received his MBA from Southern Methodist University. In 1955, he was drafted into the U.S. Army; while in the Army, he married Ann Taylor on March 26, 1955, at the Prosper Methodist Church. He was discharged from the Army in December of 1956. Bill started working for Chance/ Vought -LTV Corporation in 1956, in Grand Prairie, Texas. He worked for the LTV companies (Chance Vought-LTV Range Systems Division-Service Technology Corporation (STC) and Kentron) for twenty-seven years in various location, which included Grand Prairie, White Sands, New Mexico, Houston (at the NASA Space Center), and Dallas. In 1983, Bill left LTV and began working for Varel International, Inc. in Dallas, Texas and retired from Varel in 1999, as Chief Financial officer (CFO). He lived in Grand Prairie, TX.,from 1956-1964, Las Cruces, New Mexico from 1964-1999, Plano, TX from 1971-1999, and McKinney, TX from 1999 to present.
Bill served as President of Prosper Historical Society where he served on the committee for the Day Long Celebration for the 100 year founding of Prosper in October 2002. He also did charity work for the Salvation Army each week through his church. He was a member of the Collin County Historical Commission, Prosper Master Plan, and advisory committee regarding parks and recreation. In this position he visited other cities to see their parks and recreation areas. He was also a member of the incorporation committee for the celebration held on April 26, 2014 for the 100 years of the incorporation. He attended town council meetings and met with the Mayor, council members, and staff to coordinate future fundings for various projects. These meetings also include coordination of future sites for the Historical Museum, library, parks and recreation areas, senior centers, restoration and preserving of the “Old Downtown”, preserving historic buildings and houses in Prosper. Bill worked with Dr. Watkins, Dr. Goddard, and the Prosper Independent School District in using the PISD School Board Room for the Museum. He made presentations to the 2nd and 3rd graders on the “cotton Industry” as it was in the late 1800’s and through the 1900’s. He wrote a monthly article for the “Prosper Live Magazine” on the history of Prosper. Bill worked as a volunteer in building Frontier Park. He was a member of the “Prosper 50” senior citizens who meet monthly for dinners and programs at the First Baptist Church in Prosper. He spoke at the Prosper Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club, and the Collin County Historical Society on the history of Prosper. Bill was in charge of the Prosper Annual Veterans Day Program and was a speaker on Veterans Day each year. He was working with the town of Prosper to honor all Veterans who have served in our Armed Services.
Bill's first love was his wife, Ann Taylor. Bill and Ann loved First United Methodist Church in McKinney, Texas where they were members. They loved to travel to many parts of the world, including all fifty states. They had a close group of friends called the “Clique”with whom they shared many good times together. Bill's two daughters, their husbands, and their grandkids who live in the area, took very good care of him. All of them have been an inspiration since Ann’s death in 2011. About a year after Ann’s death, he started dating Betty Gotcher Stewart whom he had known all his life. Bill enjoyed his daily coffee at Dairy Queen with his buddies. He was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. Bill enjoyed life to the fullest.
He is survived by his children, Karie Dalton and husband, Arthur “Sug” of Prosper, Texas and Kelli Downs and husband, Bill of Fairview, Texas; grandchildren, Brad Nichols, Bree Nichols, Danielle Downs, Chris Hays, Jessica Hays, Danny Hays, Jordan Wade, and Courtney Piclic; great-grandchildren, Ellie Ann Nichols, Oliver Hays, and Brandon Sloan; several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Ann (Taylor) Hays, son, Mike Hays, parents, and a brother, Dennie Lynn Hays.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, December 26, 2016 at First United Methodist Church in McKinney, Texas with the Dr. Thomas O. Brumett and Dr. Don Renshaw officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Lydia Patterson Institute (Children Education Program) at First United Methodist Church, 315 North Church Street, McKinney, Texas 75069 and/or to The Prosper Veterans Memorial, P.O. Box 221 Prosper, Texas 75078.