Jacquelynn (Jackie) Ford Hays

Jackie Hays, 90, died March 16, 2024, in her daughters’ home in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She was born February 23, 1934, in Medicine Lodge, Kansas, to her mother Mary Bell and Eugene Ford, a marriage that was dissolved soon after her birth. She was raised in a large, loving family in a close-knit farming community where people knew and helped each other, worked hard, and had fun together. That upbringing shaped who she was, and she remained close to her Bell Family roots throughout her life.

After graduating from high school, Jackie attended Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas, where she made many lifetime friends. She married Garry Hays in 1955 (divorced 1992). They had three children and lived in Winfield and Lawrence, Kansas, St. Cloud, Minnesota, and Virginia Beach, Virginia, before moving to Roseville, Minnesota in 1970, where Jackie lived the rest of her life.

Her passion for helping troubled teens began in the 60’s in Virginia Beach when she became active in a League of Women Voters (LWV) effort to stop juveniles being held in jails with adults. After moving to Roseville, she continued her involvement with the LWV, joining a study addressing the lack of resources for troubled youth in the suburbs. This effort ultimately led to the creation of Northeast Youth and Family Services in 1976, of which Jackie was a founding board member. During this time, she also worked at Fairview Junior High School, then Roseville Area Schools Focus Program at Alexander Ramsey High School, while returning to school to finish her degree in social work at the University of Minnesota (1979). In 1981, she landed her dream job, working with teens and their families as Director of Aftercare at Wilder Foundation’s St. Croix Camps Program for court-referred youth. After retiring from Wilder in 1999, she worked part-time at the Forest Lake Youth Service Bureau until 2014 when she retired at the age of 80. She loved her work and never wanted to stop working. Jackie was also active in local DFL politics and always interested in current affairs. Throughout her career and volunteer work, she impacted the lives of many teens and families and gained many lifelong friends.

Jackie was preceded in death by her mother, Mary Bell Frederick Hommertzheim, brother Darrell Frederick, and many Bell Family aunts, uncles, and cousins. She is survived by her children Dana and son-in-law Ed Petsche, son Mark Hays (Missy Hulett), and daughter Julie Hays; granddaughter Alyssa (Matt) Loehrer and great-grandsons Zachary and Logan; sister Carol Davis; brother Rod Frederick; cousins Ginger (Frank) Black, Merle (Ann) Bell, Aleen Bell, Marilyn Bell, and Carle Bell; her nieces and nephews and their families; bonus family Leticia, Mike, Josh, and Jada Hehr, Marie Soliz, and Lena Soliz; and close longtime friends who she treasured as family.

Jackie will be remembered as a caring and accepting person who loved and supported her family and friends unconditionally, was passionate about her work, and actively engaged in her community and neighborhood. She exuded warmth, had a wonderful sense of humor, and was genuinely interested in other people. “GMA” was especially proud of her granddaughter, Alyssa, who, along with her great grandsons, gave her much joy.

Always on the go and game for fun, Jackie loved trips to Kansas for Memorial Day and Thanksgiving reunions, annual winter visits with her Arizona family, travels and adventures with friends, Saturday morning breakfast club, going out to hear music (she was her son-in-law’s biggest fan), dancing, taking walks, going to the MN State Fair, dinners, and parties. She was proud of her home and loved working in her yard. Through her energy, wisdom, compassion, and kindness, Jackie touched many lives. She will be greatly missed.

The family wishes to thank the staff of Our Lady of Peace Hospice for their caring assistance. Our deepest thanks go to “Jackie’s Team,” who gave Jackie not only care, but also their friendship, and helped her keep being engaged in the things she loved as much as possible in the last years of her life.

A memorial/celebration of life will be held at Urban Growler Brewing Company, Saturday, April 20, 1-5pm (service at 1:30pm). Memorials preferred to Northeast Youth and Family Services and Medicine Lodge (KS) Library. The family is planning a memorial bench at Roseville’s Villa Park where Jackie loved to walk.