Dorothy Rose (Dowell) Hayes

January 2, 1916 – April 7, 2000

Dorothy Rose Dowell (Holmes) Hayes of Waurika Lake went to live with the Lord Friday, April 7, 2000.

Service will be at 1 p.m. Monday at the First Methodist Church in Comanche with the Rev. Jody Hilliard officiating and the Rev. James Kim assisting. Burial will be in the Fairlawn Cemetery in Comanche, Oklahoma under the direction of Carter-Smart Funeral Home.

Mrs. Hayes was born on Jan. 2, 1916 in Perry. As a young teenager she first met the Lord atop her horse while carrying water to threshers on her parent’s farm. From that time until she died, she faithfully served God by sharing His gift teaching Sunday School countless mission projects. She unashamedly told the story of Jesus to all she met.

Dorothy taught primary, first and second grades at Meridian Elementary School during World War II before moving to New Mexico. Accounts of Dorothy and her family appear in the early written history of the building of Glorieta Baptist Assembly in Glorieta, N.M. For 40 years she taught Sunday School, sang in the choir and was active in mission projects in New Mexico.

She continued that legacy at First Baptist Church in Duncan and through a dual membership at the Methodist church in Comanche during her later years.

Dorothy has been a loving wife and mother, a guiding example, and the temporary separation from her family will be greatly felt by those who remain.

Dorothy and Clarence Estel Holmes, married on June 24, 1934, and shared 56 years. On April 28, 1991, she married Boyd E. Hayes of Comanche.

Survivors include her husband of the home; a brother, Claud Dowell and his wife Dorothy of Perry; two daughters, Tonya Shook and her husband Clarence of Hastings and Mary Tackett and her husband Kenneth of Newalla; two steps-sons and daughters-in-law, Jimmy Ray and Georgia Hayes of Crosby, Texas, and Charles and Dilynn Hayes of Comanche; seven grandchildren and spouses, Randall Maxwell of Enid, Lori Farrell, Cathy and Shelby Lyons of Littleton, Colo., Shanna and Phil Covington, Cheryl and Steve Clark of Snyder, Texas, Val Wayne and Marsha McDannel of Thornton, Colo., and Audie and Vern Hankins of White Sands, N.M.; nine step-grandchildren and spouses, Carolene and Lance Folse of Denton, Texas, Shawn Hardin of Colorado Springs, Colo., Dawn and Randy Allen of Ryan, Kenneth Allen Tackett of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., Tana and Bobby Murphy of Lewisville, Texas, Gordon Hayes of Houston, Brian and Brandi Hayes of Comanche, Malinda and John Altom of Gainesville, Fla., and William “Jocko” Hayes of Houston; 18 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and several nieces and nephews. She is also survived by a special chosen daughter and spouse, Evita and Dwight Sanford of Duncan.

Proceeding her in death were her husband, Clarence Estel Holmes; her parents, Rose and Elmer Dowell; a sister, Vera Wells; a great-granddaughter, Amber Dawn Allen; and a step-son, Jerry Hayes.