Barbara Luella Hayes

Barbara Luella Hayes, 92, of Marshalltown, peacefully went home to be with her heavenly Father on Wednesday, August 18th, 2021 at Bishop Drumm Retirement Center in Johnston and under the care of St Croix Hospice. Funeral services for Barbara will be held on Saturday, August 28th, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home in Marshalltown. Visitation will take place prior to the service; starting at 1:00 p.m. Memorials may be directed to the family. For more information or to send a condolence, please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234. Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for Barbara and her family. Barbara Ray was born on October 26, 1928 at the family farm in Jasper County, Iowa near Kellogg. She was the curious, creative and head strong, middle daughter of Harry and Dora Schultz Ray. Barb graduated from Laurel High School in 1947 and received her LPN from Mercedian School of Practical Nursing in 1962. Barb travelled across country at the age of 18 to Reno, NV to marry the love of her life, Jack M. Hayes on June 28, 1947, while he was serving in the Army. Barb and Jack returned not long after, to settle in Marshalltown, Iowa. There they had their daughter, Jacqueline, who was the center of their world, when they weren’t entertaining friends. The two took on many endeavors together, often with great success, paired with occasional bickering. They were a dynamic duo, married for 69 years and 9 months, until Jack’s death in 2017. They built their home, brick by brick, on the outskirts of Marshalltown where Barb lived until June of 2020. Barb and Jack owned and operated Hayes Sports Shop, then JJ Roundtable which became JAX Supper Club in Marshalltown. They made many memories on their houseboat, which they navigated down the Mississippi, Ohio and Tennessee rivers, docking in Guntersville, AL and back north to East Dubuque, IL. Barb loved nature, whether it was bird watching, doing yard work or picking apples to make her famous apple pies. She was a whiz in the kitchen and had a knack for arts and crafts. Barb and Jack’s most notable crafting projects were the elaborate train display and equally detailed doll house, both built for their two grandchildren. Barb was a hard worker and a nurse to the core, caring for Jack until his final days. She wouldn’t have had it any other way.  Barb was an avid follower of the Chicago Cubs, Iowa Hawkeyes and Auburn Tigers, but wasn’t afraid to turn off the games if they weren’t pulling their weight. Barb loved to remind you that she, “loved you so, so much” and that “no one was going to tell her what to do”. Above all else, she deeply loved her people, friends, family and most of all her daughter, grandchildren and great grandchildren, whose activities she rarely missed. Barbara is survived by her daughter, Jackie Sampson of West Des Moines; grandchildren: Kirk (Lisa) Sampson of Auburn, Alabama and Megan (Jason) Buske of Clive. Affectionately known as “Baba” by her surviving great grandchildren: Hayes Sampson, Jake Sampson, Ian Buske, Aidan Buske and Addison Buske, as well as numerous nieces, nephews and extended family members. Barbara is preceded in death by her husband, Jack; parents: Harry and Dora and sisters: Doris Lathrop and Patricia Gilmore.