Carol Burns Hayes

Carol Burns Hayes was born in Ilion, New York on November 2, 1929 to Edward J. ""Ted"" Burns, an attorney, and Edyth L. Burns (nee Leonhardt). She grew up in neighboring Mohawk, New York with three younger brothers, Leighton, Ed, and Bob. She graduated as Salutatorian from Mohawk Central High School in 1947 where she was a cheerleader and active in music and drama. She often recalled travelling to Montreal to perform with her high school choir. Carol attended Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. At Cornell, Carol majored in French, lived in the Chi Omega sorority house, lettered in softball as Chi O's catcher, met her husband-to-be, and received her Bachelor of Arts degree (June, 1951). The next year she taught in the public school system of Interlaken, New York. In October, 1952, Carol married Dr. Richard O. Hayes, an entomologist with the U.S. Public Health Service, at the Mohawk Reformed Church in Mohawk, New York. The couple honeymooned at Niagara Falls and drove to California. Carol and Dick lived in several places around the country during their 57 years of marriage including Bakersfield, CA, Savannah, GA, Taunton, MA, Greeley, CO, Fort Collins, CO, Albany, CA, Cape Cod, MA, Scottsdale, AZ, and Broomfield, CO. Carol and Dick raised four children: Eric A. Hayes of Edmond, OK, Lorraine H. Trotter of Broomfield, CO, Nancy H. Armstrong of Erie, CO, and Paul F. Hayes of Marmet, WV. As a loving and practical mother, she guided them through their education and extracurricular activities. She was proud of her family and their various accomplishments. As the children left the nest, she began working for Fort Collins' Poudre R-1 School District as a substitute teacher in French, Spanish, German, and Latin. Carol was active in her community and a lover of music, sports, and travel. Although she played the piano rarely, she was very adept. She instituted an annual outdoor ""pops concert"" for the Fort Collins High School orchestra. She served as President and Secretary for the Fort Collins Symphony Guild where she helped to advance its fund-raising efforts with a Symphony Ball and Antique Show. She was a lifelong Yankees fan and also supported the Colorado Rockies, Denver Broncos, and while in Scottsdale, the Arizona Diamondbacks. She travelled extensively throughout the United States, including Alaska, Hawaii, and many major league baseball parks. She also travelled in Canada, Mexico, and Europe. Carol's strong faith led her to take an active role in the churches she attended wherever she lived. She participated in women's church ""circles,"" served on various committees, and became an ordained Elder at the First Presbyterian Church of Fort Collins in the 1970s. A very social person, Carol enjoyed playing bridge and hosting friends for a dinner or Kentucky Derby party. Carol always exhibited a very positive attitude, and gracefully lived with Multiple Sclerosis for 30 years. She spent her last four years at a Broomfield nursing home, where she enjoyed the activities, kind staff, and proximity to her daughters and ever faithful husband, Dick. Carol is survived by her husband Richard O. Hayes; children Eric A. (Kathy) Hayes: Lorraine H. (Walter) Trotter, Nancy H. (Henry Shepherd) Armstrong; Paul F. Hayes; grandchildren Crystal (Michael) Jones, Megan Hayes, Sheryl Hayes, John Hayes, Scott Armstrong, Amanda Armstrong, Amelia Trotter, Thomas Trotter, and Gavin Trotter; five great-grandchildren; brothers Leighton R. Burns and Edward L. Burns. She was preceded in death by her father, Edward J. Burns, mother Edyth L. Burns, and brother Robert J. Burns. Services will be held at the Presbyterian Church of Broomfield, 350 Main St., Broomfield, CO 80020 on Monday, June 22, 2009 with visitation beginning at ten o'clock, funeral at eleven o'clock, and burial and reception to follow. Memorial donations may be made in Carol's name to the Rocky Mountain Multiple Sclerosis Center, 701 E. Hampden Ave., Suite 420, Englewood, CO 80113.