Sarah "Sally" (Hamilton) Hayes

Sarah “Sally” Hamilton Hayes, age 90, passed away peacefully on her birthday, December 12, 2017 at home, surrounded by family in Petoskey, Michigan. She was born on December 12, 1927 in Oak Park, Illinois to Woodman C. Hamilton and Dorothy Fish Hamilton.

Her family and close family friends, the Small’s, moved together to California and shared a ranch when Sally was two years old.  Sally grew up in the Sonoma Valley, and their ranch, “The Stone Tree Ranch” was located in the Valley of the Moon.  (Glen Ellen, California). Sally attended school in Sonoma, and while in high school her family moved back to Chicago.  Sally graduated from Oak Park, IL High School 1945. Following high school, she attended Carleton College in Minnesota. After one year she transferred to Presbyterian Nursing School in Chicago where she became a Registered Nurse, then continued to work as a nurse in the Presbyterian Hospital until moving to Northern Michigan. 

It was while at nursing school, in 1949 she met a young man from Carp Lake, MI, Hubert Hayes at a YMCA dance.  He was in Dental School at Loyola University. They married in 1951 and upon Hubert’s graduation in 1953, they moved to Northern Michigan, setting up a new dental practice in Petoskey, Michigan.  This started a marriage and partnership that lasted 66 years, until her passing.

Sally was an active member of the Petoskey United Methodist Church, over the years she taught Sunday school, played in the hand bell choir, and a myriad of other roles while being an active Christian and member of the church.

In 1993 Sally and Hubert joined a Christian missions traveling service group called “The Twenty-Niners”. Sally and her husband participated in no less than 25 missions around the United States where the group built houses, did remodeling projects, and other such projects for those in need.

Sally enjoyed traveling, camping, water and snow sports, square dancing, clogging and everything that involved family and friends.  She also enjoyed Tiger baseball and a good night of cribbage.

Together Sally and Hubert raised five kids and Sally was also active in all aspects of their lives as they grew up and became active adults and family members. They were very proud of their five children, sixteen grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.

Sally is survived by husband Dr. Hubert Hayes, of Petoskey, Michigan; Five children, all from Petoskey: Stephen, Daniel (Cheryl Voss), Andrew (Cindy), Mary Stone (Douglas), Margaret Goldsmith (Ken), and daughter in law Joni Hayes and 16 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren and other relatives throughout the United States.

Sally was preceded in death by father Woodman C. Hamilton, mother Dorothy Fish Hamilton; brothers Woodman Hamilton, Jr, Russel F. Hamilton, Edgar L. Hamilton and son-in law Douglas Stone.

A memorial service will be held at a later date. 

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations be made to the Petoskey United Methodist Church, Hospice of Little Traverse Bay, or a charity of your choice.

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