Melba Forsythe Hayes

Melba Jean Forsythe Hayes, 86, of Lake Charles, LA, died at 3:00 PM on Wednesday, January 11, 2017 in a local hospital.

Mrs. Hayes was born September 24, 1930 in Beaumont, TX, where she was raised, and graduated from high school. She was also a graduate of Lamar State College and moved to Lake Charles over fifty-five years ago. She was a past member of First Christian Church and a longtime member of Lake Charles Bible Church. Mrs. Hayes previously worked for Craddock Refrigeration and retired from the Calcasieu Parish School Board, where she worked in administration. During her younger years, she enjoyed gardening, spending time in her yard, and sewing. She also enjoyed playing Bridge and was an avid reader. She was loved dearly and will be missed by her family.

Mrs. Hayes is survived by her four children, Lamar Hayes and wife Judy of Longville, LA, Kaki Brown and husband Paul of Whitsett, NC, Randy Hayes and wife Jackie of Iowa, LA, and Dinah Courville of Lake Charles; eleven grandchildren; thirty-two great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren on-the-way; her beloved dog, Bandit; and numerous other family members and friends, including “The Golden Girls”.

She was preceded in death by her husband of sixty-two years, Glyn Lamar Hayes; her parents, Bertie and Edie Self Forsythe; two sisters; and two grandchildren, Rusty Alvin Hayes and Christopher Aaron Brown.

Her funeral service will be held at 2:00 PM on Sunday, January 15, 2017 at the Johnson Funeral Home Chapel. Reverends Phil Carpenter and Don Barrett will officiate. Burial will follow in Consolata Cemetery. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Saturday from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM and continue on Sunday from 11:00 AM until the start of the service.