SOUTH WHITLEY – Joann Geneva Bays, 83, South Whitley, passed away at 7:13 a.m. May 3, 2014, at Lutheran Hospital of Indiana, Fort Wayne. She was born June 19, 1930, in Round Head, Ohio, to Lester and Nora Whitaker Nichols. On Sept. 12, 1947, in Warsaw, she married her lifetime sweetheart, Roy Bays, who died Oct. 24, 2003. She spent her childhood in Ohio until her early teens when she and her family moved to Laketon, where she attended high school. She then met Roy at a restaurant while playing the guitar at age 16 and fell in love. 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 dumplings and great breakfast food. She had a lifelong love of singing and dancing. She was an 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. She always had a very strong faith, and was a member of Lighthouse Pentecostal Church, Warsaw. Surviving are two children, Diana (and spouse Tim) Moyer, South Whitley, and Timmy (and spouse Barbara) Bays, Lineville, Ala.; three grandchildren: Barry (and spouse Jennie) Bays, Tanner Moyer and Tristan (and spouse Christy Green) Moyer; three great-grandchildren: Blake S. Bays, Pressley and Lilley Moyer; one sister, Virgie Thompson, Laketon, Fla.; her companion of seven years, Harold Rhoades, Columbia City; and brother-in-law, Gerald “Bud” Hites, Columbia City. She was also preceded in death by her parents and three siblings: Ralph and Melvin Nichols and Donna Hites. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at DeMoney-Grimes, a Life Story Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City, with the Revs. Glen Hughes and Robie Whitacker officiating. Burial is in South Whitley Cemetery. Calling is from 3 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. ***** Memorials to the Lighthouse Pentecostal Church, Warsaw. Condolences may be sent via www.demoneygrimes.com
