Celebration of life services for Mary Jo Hays, 61, of Washington, IA will be held Monday, January 18th at 10:00AM at the 1st Assembly of God Church in Washington with Pastor Jim Cluney officiating. Burial will follow at the Elm Grove Cemetery in Washington. Visitation will be held Sunday, January 17, with the family present from 1-4 and 6-8PM at the 1st Assembly of God Church in Washington. A memorial fund for the Pure Water for All Foundation has been established. Mary Jo Hays died Thursday, January 14, 2010, at the University of Iowa Health Care Center in Iowa City following a brief illness.
Mary Jo (Wittrig) Hays was born May 14, 1948 in Washington, IA the daughter of Vernon E. and Ethel Bernice (Dawson) Wittrig. She graduated from Washington High School in 1966. On March 16, 1985 she was united in marriage to John Hays in Washington, IA. She worked as an abstractor for 15 years with the Washington Abstract Company, was co-founder of the Pure Water for All Foundation and for the past five years had owned and operated the Hays House Tea Room. She attended the 1st Assembly of God Church and was a member of several stitching clubs, Rotary Club of Washington and various other social groups. Mary Jo enjoyed doing cross stitch, flower gardening, cooking, especially potato salad, and was very proud of her grandchildren. Family meant everything to Mary Jo and she was known to be very compassionate and generous to every person she met.
Survivors include her husband, John of Washington, one daughter, Angi (Smith) and husband Jeff Arkema of Pella, Iowa, two step daughter�s, Liz and husband Josh Nielsen of West Des Moines, Iowa, Chelsea and husband James Hartman of Kansas City, MO, four grandchildren, Briana, Cameron and Kail Arkema and William Nielsen, a mother-in-law, Margaret Hays of San Diego, CA, three sister-in-laws, Peggy and husband Dan Moore of Yarmouth, Iowa, Becky Hays and fianc� Scottish Langham of Lake Elsinore, CA. and Kathy and husband Barry Heilman of San Diego, CA.
Preceding Mary Jo in death were her parents and her father in law, John Hays.