Frances was born on March 3, 1938, to William and Mary Hays in Bienville, Louisiana. She and her family moved to Osage, Texas, where she spent the next six years of her life, then moved back to her home of Claiborne Parish, Louisiana where she lived for the next eighty years of her life.

Frances married the love of her life, Larry Norman Bays, in 1954 and they started a family. Daniel Norman Bays (Danny) was born in 1955 while Larry was serving his country during the Korean War Conflict. Upon returning from war, Larry remained her constant companion for the next fifty years until his death in January 2007.

Frances was dedicated to helping people. She worked for over twenty years at the Homer Memorial Hospital and over twenty years at the Louisiana Department of Registrar of Voters, from which she retired in 2008. Throughout her life, Frances was a devoted wife and mother. She was a lifelong member of the First Presbyterian Church in Homer, Louisiana. She was a member of the Homer Flower and Garden Club as well as the Claiborne Parish Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Frances was preceded in death by her grandparents, Emma Kimbell Gladney, Frank Arthur Gladney, Mary Ann Loe Hays, and John Clayton Hays; her father, William Taylor Hays (Buddy); her mother, Mary Gladney Hays; her older brother, William Taylor Hays, Jr. (Billy); her sister, Patricia Hays Bryan McLeod; her nephew, Christopher Bryan; her nephew, Charles Atkins; and her niece, Carol Hays Bourn. She is survived by her sister, Emma Jeanne Hays Atkins, and her brother, James Kimbell Hays (Bubba). She is also survived by her son, Daniel Norman Bays (Danny) and wife, Rebecca Goodwin Bays (Becky); her grandchildren, Daniel N. Bays, Jr. (wife Rachel) and Heather Elizabeth Bays (fiancé James); as well as her sister-in-law, Joy Hays, and the following nieces and nephews: Kimbell Hays (wife Nicci), Clayton Hays (wife Trudy), David Hays, Becky Bryan Lennox (husband Frank), Nelwyn Hays Clack (husband Steve), and Jay Hays (wife Brenda). Frances is also survived by her great-granddaughters, Blair and Bishop Bays.

Pallbearers were Kimbell Hays, Clayton Hays, Jay Hays, Ty Hays, Hutton Hays, Tommy Bourn, Thomas Bourn, and John Malone.

The family wishes to extend a special thanks to Dr. Sam and Camille Abshire, as well as Luella Nunley Buggs.

Visitation was be held at Kilpatrick’s Rose-Neath Funeral Home in Homer on Friday, March 10, 2023, from 5:30-7:30 p.m., and services were held on Saturday, March 11, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, Homer, Louisiana. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the First Presbyterian Church, Homer, the Presbyterian Village of Homer or Claiborne Academy.

Rose-Neath Funeral Home

Homer Chapel  (318) 927-6110