Funeral services for Nelda Hays, 87 year old Buffalo resident who passed away peacefully Friday at her home in Buffalo, will be held Saturday, May 21st at 10:00 a.m. at the Story Community Church in Story, Wyoming with Pastor John Constantine and Pastor Caleb Groteluschen officiating. A private family interment will take place at a later time. There will be a reception meal at the church for all to follow the service. Donations in Nelda’s memory may be made to the Capstone Church Building Fund at P.O. Box 1128 in Helena, Montana 59624 where her grandson Caleb Groteluschen is the pastor. Written condolences may be sent to 859 N. Burritt in Buffalo, Wy. 82834. Online condolences may be made at www.harnessfuneralhome.com Nelda Ruth Hays was born on January 1, 1935 in Shawnee, Oklahoma to Orval and Thelma See. She attended elementary school in Oklahoma and moved to Mountainair, New Mexico where she lived until she was fourteen. She moved with her family to Hobbs, New Mexico where she graduated from high school with the class of 1953. She was married on October 2, 1954 in Hobbs to William Hays and they made their home in Port Hueneme, California where Bill was in the SeaBees. Following Bill’s discharge they moved to Borger, Texas where he worked for Philips Petroleum. In 1958 Bill was called to preach and they moved to Abilene, Texas where she supported Bill working as a bookkeeper while he was in his undergrad and later when he was at Southwestern Theological Baptist Seminary. After seminary they served in numerous churches throughout Texas. They then moved to Amarillo, Texas where they served a church together. In 1982 they moved to Casper and continued serving in ministry together. Nelda and Bill moved to mission work with the North American Mission Board of the SBC assisting with churches in northeastern Wyoming until they retired. In 1996 they moved to Buffalo where Nelda was a bookkeeper until she retired in 2009. Bill passed away in November of 2018 and Nelda continued living in Buffalo until her death. Nelda loved her family and was known as “Mimi Yoo-hoo” to all because she loved teaching the babies to say “Yoo-hoo” as one of their first words. She had high standards and expectations and made them known to the family she loved so well. Cooking and baking were another of her many talents and family and community alike had “Nelda favorites” from her vast array of specialty cakes. She especially spoiled her sons-in-law with her amazing cooking skills. She had great talent for painting and music and spent many years playing the organ and piano for the many churches where she served. Highlights of her later years included a Gaither Musical Cruise and a surprise trip to see the Texas Tenors, one of her favorite musical groups. Her greatest purpose in life was to serve her Savior alongside Bill in the many churches and areas where they lived. She is survived by one son, Michael Hays and his wife Shelly of Casper, Wyoming; three daughters Martha Hall of Buffalo, Wyoming, Karan Wells and her husband Michael also of Casper and Ronda Groteluschen and her husband Ron also of Buffalo; twelve grandchildren; twenty-six great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband.