Funeral services for Elza Ray Hays, III, age 69, of Ruston, will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, August 28, 2020, at Owens Memorial Chapel.

Ray was born on January 17, 1951, in Tacoma, Washington, and passed away on August 18, 2020, at his home in Ruston, Louisiana.

Those of us blessed to have had Ray in our lives are at once deeply saddened at his untimely adieu, and extraordinarily grateful for the joyous moments we shared while he was here.  Ray was beloved, a son, a brother, an uncle, a United States Army veteran, and an apt and lifelong pupil.  He graduated from Ruston High and obtained several degrees from Louisiana Tech.  Ray never stopped learning, nor wanting to learn, and was an avid reader.  He had a passion for politics and welcomed a healthy debate.  For the last fourteen years, Ray greatly enjoyed helping others through his work as a water restoration job superintendent.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents, Elza Ray (E.R.) Hays, Jr., and Marion Pauline (Polly) Burnley Hays, and his beloved Rottweiler, Mac. He is survived by his five siblings, Debbie Crosson (Don) of Harrah, Oklahoma, Clark Hays (Genene) of Ruston, Louisiana, Mike Hays (Liz) of Arcadia, Louisiana, Gail Grafton (Mike) of Yorktown, Indiana, and Scott Hays (Wendy) of El Dorado, Arkansas, and their families.

In lieu of flowers, the family ask that memorials be made to St. Jude's Children's Hospital.