Betty Jean Hayward

Betty Jean (Reed) Hayward passed away peacefully January 18, 2021 at her home in Darlington. 

Betty was born on the 25th of September in 1935 to Don Reed and Ann Hanes in Los Angeles, California. She spent her younger years in California and Oregon growing up with her younger brother, Dick and graduating high school in 1954 in Grant’s Pass, Oregon. She loved to tell stories of her parents, going through cosmetology school, and helping her mother in the fields harvesting. 

She married Herbert Hayward on February 4, 1956 in Yuma, Arizona to which two children were born. Richard, the oldest, gave the couple four grandsons, Michael, Stephen, Kevin, and Anthony. Jean Ann supplied the granddaughters, Racheal and Kassi.

Herb and Betty left California, settling back in Dunnegan, Missouri in 1964 in the area where Herb’s family all hailed. They raised kids, cows, and a little bit of cane on the farm. Her pride and joy was the small herd of Jersey cattle she milked every day. When not tending to the kids and cows, she worked at CMH Hospital and the local nursing homes in Bolivar as a housekeeper, achieving the title of head housekeeper. Betty also put her cosmetology training to use, cutting everyone’s hair for free in a several mile radius. In 1998, they sold it all and moved up here to Darlington to be with Jean and the kids. She continued to raise a garden and various fruit trees as well as the herd of critters.

Betty was a hardheaded woman. When she had in her mind she could do something, that is exactly what she did, oftentimes to the objections of her family. She was well known for her love of animals of all sorts – dogs, horses, the stories of skunks in yesteryear – and her fantastic crocheted potholders and afghans. She never met a stray animal that didn’t end up being one of the pack. She could also never pass up a garage sale.

Betty lost her sweetheart in 2003 but talked about him everyday. He was never really gone. The stories she would tell of their adventures in their youth ranging from the high desert to raising their kids. Betty is survived by her brother, children, grandchildren, and several great-grandchildren as well as quite a few others who called her family. 

Per her request, services will be kept to a minimum. She will be cremated and reunited with her Herb for the rest of eternity. 

Inurnment will be held at a later date.