Rosalee Messersmith Hayes, of Vienna, was born on November 15, 1926, at Brinktown, in Maries County, a daughter of Jesse and Ida (Brumble) Messersmith, and departed this life at 8:21 p.m., on Tuesday, March 10, 2015, in the Capital Region Medical Center, Jefferson City. Mrs. Hayes had been in failing health since suffering a stroke in June of 2014, and had attained the age of 88 years, 3 months, and 25 days.

Mrs. Hayes was united in marriage on November 10, 1945, at Rolla, to Oscar Hayes, who preceded his wife in death on September 30, 1991. She was also preceded in death by her father, Jesse, on September 22, 1976; her mother, Ida, on January 11, 1991; one brother and his wife, Allen and Martha (Yoakum) Messersmith; two sisters and their husbands, Roxie and Harry Manes, and Alma and Granville Warner; four brothers-in-law, Joe Hayes, Homer Hayes, James W. Hayes and Thurman W. Hayes; two sisters-in-law, Stella Mae Davis and Ethel E. Pierce; two nephews, Carl Manes and Richard Messersmith; one niece, Carol Sue Cook; and one nephew-in-law, Judge Robert Campbell.

Mrs. Hayes accepted Jesus Christ as her Personal Savior while attending a chapel revival service at Southwest Baptist College, at Bolivar, where she was attending school, and was later baptized in the Big Tavern Creek on October 21, 1951, and became a member of the Wheeler Christian Church near Dixon. On March 2, 1997, Mrs. Hayes became a member of the First Baptist Church, Vienna, and a devoted worker and helper in Kids Club, Vacation Bible School, on the Hospitality Committee assisting in the kitchen with food preparation for various church events, and in other ministries of the church. She was known for her cooking ability and especially for her delicious pies.

In 1962, Mrs. Hayes received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education from Lincoln University in Jefferson City. During her teaching career, she had taught school at Pleasant Ridge, Terry, Davis, Santee, Mason Ridge, and began in 1970 at Maries R-l in Vienna until her retirement in 1985 after 35 years total service. Mrs. Hayes was employed by the Rainey House Antiques, Gifts and Collectibles in Vienna beginning in June of 2013 and thoroughly enjoyed all aspects of her work there until her ill health. She was a member of the Missouri State Teachers Association and the Missouri State Retired Teachers Association.

Those left to mourn the passing of Mrs. Hayes include: One sister-in-law, Juanita Hayes of Gerald; nephews and nieces, Randall and Susan Warner of Reeds Spring; Jesse David "J.D." and Sherry Warner of Union; Barbara (Manes) Campbell of Cape Girardeau; Elmer and Rachel Davis of Laquey; Grover and Joan Pierce of Willow Springs; David and Linda Pierce of St. James; Butch and Debbie Hayes of Sullivan; Virginia Slemp of Richland; Darlene Skyles of Rolla; Lynn and Ted Clark of Gerald; Dawn Jerraine and David Gaunt of Macon; Kelley Hayes of Belle; and Sheila and Tim Koehn of Bland; great-nephews and nieces; great-great-nephews and nieces; great-great-great-nephews and nieces; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Funeral services for Mrs. Hayes were conducted at 11:00 a.m., on Saturday, March 14, 2015, in the Vienna Chapel of the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Homes with the Rev. Mike Hurtgen officiating.

Interment was in the Vienna Public Cemetery, next to her beloved husband, under the direction of the Vienna Chapel of the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Homes. Active pallbearers were Randall Warner, Daren Eads, Richard Messersmith, Jr., Jeff Messersmith, Dixon Martin, Jr., and Kyle Miller. Honorary pallbearers were J.D. Warner, Dave Pierce, and Michael Campbell.

Memorial contributions are suggested by the family of Mrs. Hayes to the Wheeler Schoolhouse Restoration Project or the Wheeler Cemetery Perpetual Care Fund with envelopes available at the Vienna Office of the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Homes or in care of the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Home, P.O. Box 250, Vienna, Missouri 65582.