Joann G. Bays

Joann Geneva Bays, 83, of South Whitley, IN passed away at 7:13 a.m. Saturday, May 3, 2014 at Lutheran Hospital of Indiana, Fort Wayne. She was born on June 19, 1930 in Round Head, OH to Lester and Nora (Whitaker) Nichols.

She spent her childhood in Ohio until her early teens when she and her family moved to Laketon, IN where she attended high school. She then met Roy Bays at a restaurant while playing the guitar at age 16 and fell in love and on September 12, 1947 she married her lifetime sweetheart in Warsaw.Also at age 16 she became a backup singer for Red Follie. She was first employed as a waitress at the Liberty and Humpty Dumpty and several other Warsaw restaurants. She then worked at Whitley Products in Pierceton and Chamberlin and Gripco both in South Whitley. In her 40s she became a full time homemaker. She loved roller skating, singing, playing the guitar, piano and organ, gardening and cooking. She was well known for her homemade beef and noodles, red velvet cake, biscuits and gravy, chicken and dumpling and great breakfast food. She had a lifelong love of singing and dancing. She was a avid fan and loved watching the Red Hat Strutters perform.She was always a strong willed person and was always willing to give advice and views; however, she was a very giving and loving person. Joann always had a very strong faith and was a member of Lighthouse Pentecostal Church, Warsaw.

She is survived by 2 children Diana (Tim) Moyer, South Whitley and Timmy (Barbara) Bays, Lineville, Alabama; 3 grandchildren Barry (Jennie) Bays, Tanner Moyer and Tristan (Christy Green) Moyer and 3 great grandchildren, Blake S. Bays, Pressley and Lilley Moyer; 1 sister Virgie Thompson, Laketon, FL; her companion of 7 years, Harold Rhoades of Columbia City; and brother-in-law, Gerald Bud Hites of Columbia City. She is preceded in death by her parents and her husband Roy Bays, who passed away on October 24, 2003 and 3 siblings, Ralph and Melvin Nichols and Donna Hites.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, May 6, 2014 from 3-7:00 p.m.at DeMoney-Grimes, a Life Story Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, May 7, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. with Rev. Glen Hughes and Rev. Robie Whitaker officiating. Burial will follow at South Whitley Cemetery. Memorial donation may be given in Joanns memory to the Lighthouse Pentecostal Church, Warsaw.