Barbara "Barbi" Jane Hays

Memorial service for Barbi Hays will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, May 1, 2018 at New Life Wesleyan Church. A luncheon to follow at the American Legion Post 42 at 12:30 PM.  There will be a celebration of Barbi’s life and time to share memories at Jake’s Tavern following the luncheon.   Barbara Jane (Lund) Hays passed away on Sunday, April 22, 2018 at her home in Gillette, WY. Barbara Jane Lund was born on November 6, 1949 to Florella Jane and Glen Orville Lund in Crosby, North Dakota. The family moved to Butte, Montana where she attended school and graduated from Butte High School in 1967.  One of her cherished childhood memories was spending summers at the Haxby family farm in Montana.  She loved being outdoors and spent time exploring at Ruby, Fort Peck and Homestake Lakes.  Barbi had a daughter and son from her first marriage. She later relocated to Gillette, Wyoming in 1978.  She said it was the best thing she ever did.  In Gillette, Barbi worked in banking, and at the Campbell County Court House.  While working at Rustic Inn, Barbi met the love of her life, James Kerns Hays.  They were united in marriage on October 21, 1988 at Cook Lake. With this union, she gained a loving daughter. Barbi and Jimmy purchased Jake’s Tavern in 1994 and…Oh What a Ride It Was!  Barbi and Jimmy were active in the community and held numerous fund raisers for many Wyoming organizations.  It was not uncommon for Barbi and Jimmy to open their home and hearts during the holidays to many who were apart from their families.  This tradition later transferred to holiday celebrations at Jake’s Tavern. They loved what they did and all of the wonderful people they met over the years. Barbi had a wonderful sense of humor and could turn any situation into one of laughter. She enjoyed new adventures and travel, and saw the joy in the smallest of things. She was generous with her heart and saw the good in people. She not only collected her angels, but friends along the way, maybe they were her angels too. She had strength of character and lived by all that was good and kind. Barbi is survived by her daughters, Jane (Faron) Patton of Rock Springs, Wyoming; Talayna Hays of Gillette, Wyoming; son, Kevin (Dawn) Hitt of Aurora, Colorado; sisters, Linda (Dave) Condo of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Laurie (Gerald) Reighard of Williston, North Dakota; brother, David (Patsie) Lund of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; grandchildren, Meghan, Kaden, Tatumn, Makena, Allison, Robert and Alexander and several other extended family members. She is preceded in death by her husband, James; her mother, Florella; father, Glen, and brother Orville. Barbi will be missed, but she is now reunited with Jimmy.  They will be cheering for the Broncos, Rockies, Nuggets and Avalanche from the best seats heaven has to offer. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established to support local youth programs in Gillette.  Memorials and condolences may be sent in care of Gillette Memorial Chapel 210 West 5th Street, Gillette, WY 82716. Condolences may also be expressed at www.gillettememorialchapel.com