Obituary of Joseph Michael Hays

BLACK LAKE – Joseph Michael Hays, Sr., "Mike", age 59, of Black Lake, passed away suddenly on November 6, 2016 at Samaritan Medical Center in Watertown. Calling hours will be held at French Funeral Home in Gouverneur on Thursday, November 10, 2016 from 1-3 and 6-8 p.m. His funeral service will be on Friday at 1:30 p.m. at the funeral home with Father Shane Lynch officiating. Burial will follow in the New St. James Cemetery. There will be a reception held at the Gouverneur VFW after the burial. Condolences may be shared online at www.frenchfuneralhomes.com. Mike was born on December 19, 1956 in Gouverneur to the late Raymond R. Hays, Sr. and Eileen G. (Burns) Hays. He attended the Morristown High School and began working doing farm work and then was a driller for many years for Boart Longyear, drilling test mines for the mineral companies. Over the past 20 years Mike has been a truck driver for Stout's Ready Mix in Brier Hill. Mike married Joanne Tuttle on October 17, 1981. The couple have been married for 35 years. Mike was an outdoors person who liked to ride his 4-wheeler, tinker on things around the house and used to play pool. Most of all, he loved spending time with his granddaughter, Courtney. Mike is survived by his wife, Joanne; two sons, Joseph Hays Jr. and his companion, Brandy Bogardus, Jason Hays; brothers, Ellsworth and Judy Hays, Raymond and Jackie Hays, Gary and Jackie Hays, Douglas and Maida Hays, George and Bonnie Hays, Thomas Hays, Chris Hays and companion, Judy Streeter; and sisters, Helen and Earl Simmons and Carole and Tom MacKay. He is also survived by a granddaughter, Courtney Hays and many nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his parents and a brother, John Francis Hays. Donations in memory of Mike may be made to the Gouverneur VFW Community Service Program.